BIOSAFETY CLEARING

HOUSE

The Philippines, being a party to the Cartagena

Protocol on Biosafety, has established the BCH
Pilipinas, the Philippine Biosafety Clearing-House
in compliance to Article 20 of the Cartagena
Protocol on Biosafety. The BCH Pilipinas provides
access to the countrys information on living
modified organisms (LMOs) / genetically
modified organisms (GMOs). It is a centralized
operational BCH national system designed to
facilitate the exchange of scientific, technical,
environmental and legal information on Living
Modified Organisms (LMOs).

What is BCH Pilipinas?

It

is a central repository of all

biosafety related information
generated from the NCBP and CNAs
(DA, DENR, DOH, DOST).
It serves as an information exchange
venue for providers and users of
biosafety information.

What is BCH Mechanism?

The Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH) is an

information-exchange mechanism that
provides open and easy access to key
information about Living Modified
Organisms (LMOs).

What are the CNAs and their roles?

Department of Science and

Technology
- Responsible for the review and
assessment of LMOs intended for
contained use (laboratory, screen house,
green house and confined test).
Department of Agriculture
- Responsible for the regulation of plants and
plant products derived from the use of modern
biotechnology, fisheries and other aquatic
resources, domesticated animals and biological
products used for animal husbandry or veterinary
purposes and genetically modified biological
control agents.

Department of Environment and

Natural Resources
Responsible for the regulation of LMOs intended
for bioremediation, the improvement of forest
genetic resources, and wildlife genetic resources,
applications of modern biotechnology with
potential impact on the conservation and
sustainable use of biodiversity. The DENR ensures
that environmental assessments are done and
impacts are identified in biosafety decisions.

Department of Health
Responsible for the regulation of food, including
drugs (biopharmaceuticals), cosmetics and
medical devices derived from products of
modern biotechnology.
The DOH ensures that environmental health
impact assessments are reviewed and
evaluated for biosafety decisions when
applicable.

What is the role of BCH?

(a) To facilitate the exchange of scientific,
technical, environmental and legal
information on, and experience with, living
modified organisms; and,
(b) To assist Parties to implement the
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

What are the benefits from BCH?

Access information about the national laws, regulations
and guidelines of other Parties; and information about
the decisions and assessments of other countries
relating to specific LMOs.
Ensure, by posting up-to-date information on the BCH,
that all potential exporters of LMOs to their country, or
those who wish to transport LMOs across their territory,
are aware of their national regulatory requirements.
Access information about capacity-building and other
assistance available to support implementation of the
Protocol.
Ensure that the relevant authorities in other countries
can quickly find out who to inform in the event of an
accidental movement of LMOs into their territory.

How does it work?

Governments need to put in place lines of

communication and information exchange to
ensure that information that should be made
available through the BCH is placed on the
BCH in a timely and appropriate fashion.
The development of the BCH is to be guided
by the principle of inclusiveness,
transparency and equity, and is to be open to
all governments.
A party must nominate a national focal point
for the BCH (or institutional focal point).

What is the purpose of BCH?

BCH is the only means through which
Parties can provide certain information
required under the Protocol, including
information provided by Parties for the
advance informed agreement procedure.
The BCH provides the mechanism by which
Parties are informed about final decisions
regarding domestic use (including placing
on the market) of LMOs that may be subject
to transboundary movement for food, feed
or for processing.