The Unit helps developing countries and countries with economies in transition to build national capacity and strengthen institutions for the safe management of living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology. The Unit also aims to assist countries with the implementation of national biosafety frameworks according to the GEF Initial Strategy on Biosafety.
Main activities include:
regional and subregional training workshops;
support in implementing regulatory regimes for biosafety, including systems for handling requests for permits and for monitoring, inspections and public awareness; and
the dissemination of biosafety-related information and promotion of regional and subregional cooperation and exchange of experience.
Type of organisation:
Intergovernmental organizations
Established:
2001
Number of staff:
14 at Geneva headquarters
Head/Director:
Cooperation
with the participating countries, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Secretariat of the Global Environment Fund, FAO, ISAAA, ISNAR, IUCN, OECD, UNIDO, UNDP, WHO, the World Bank and other international, regional and subregional organizations involved in biosafety and biotechnology issues, NGOs and the private sector.
Publications
A quarterly newsletter provides regular updates on the Unit's activities.
Keywords
biotechnology, biosafety, capacity building, hazardous waste, public awareness, technology
