Regional biotechnology regulations: Design options and implications for good governance

Many developing countries are currently in the process of designing regulatory systems that should allow them to use genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for agricultural development, while also managing the food safety and environmental risks potentially associated with these technologies. Various...

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Main Authors: Birner, Regina, Linacre, Nicholas A.
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2008
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160256
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author Birner, Regina
Linacre, Nicholas A.
author_browse Birner, Regina
Linacre, Nicholas A.
author_facet Birner, Regina
Linacre, Nicholas A.
author_sort Birner, Regina
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Many developing countries are currently in the process of designing regulatory systems that should allow them to use genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for agricultural development, while also managing the food safety and environmental risks potentially associated with these technologies. Various regions of the developing world are seeking to establish regional systems of biotechnology regulation. However, considerable costs are associated with biotechnology regulation, and biosafety specialists are scarce. In addition, there is no consistent understanding of how regional systems of biotechnology regulation can be designed to be effective and efficient, while also fulfilling the principles of good governance, such as transparency, voice and accountability, control of corruption, and avoidance of special interest capture. There are a wide variety of possible regional approaches, differing with regard to the level of centralization, the scope of the regional system, the types of regional institutions and processes, and the types of financing mechanisms. Here, based on findings in the fields of environmental and fiscal federalism and transaction costs economics, we develop a conceptual framework for the assessment of regional systems of biotechnology regulation. The framework specifies design options and assessment criteria, and identifies major trade-offs and their mediating factors. We use the case of West Africa to illustrate this framework, and refer to the European Union for comparison. Our analysis indicates that involving regional experts, stakeholders and policy-makers in the design of a regional regulatory system will help fill knowledge gaps and generate conclusions regarding the trade-offs involved in regional biotechnology regulation.
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spelling CGSpace1602562025-11-06T07:18:16Z Regional biotechnology regulations: Design options and implications for good governance Birner, Regina Linacre, Nicholas A. biotechnology regulatory systems european union governance Many developing countries are currently in the process of designing regulatory systems that should allow them to use genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for agricultural development, while also managing the food safety and environmental risks potentially associated with these technologies. Various regions of the developing world are seeking to establish regional systems of biotechnology regulation. However, considerable costs are associated with biotechnology regulation, and biosafety specialists are scarce. In addition, there is no consistent understanding of how regional systems of biotechnology regulation can be designed to be effective and efficient, while also fulfilling the principles of good governance, such as transparency, voice and accountability, control of corruption, and avoidance of special interest capture. There are a wide variety of possible regional approaches, differing with regard to the level of centralization, the scope of the regional system, the types of regional institutions and processes, and the types of financing mechanisms. Here, based on findings in the fields of environmental and fiscal federalism and transaction costs economics, we develop a conceptual framework for the assessment of regional systems of biotechnology regulation. The framework specifies design options and assessment criteria, and identifies major trade-offs and their mediating factors. We use the case of West Africa to illustrate this framework, and refer to the European Union for comparison. Our analysis indicates that involving regional experts, stakeholders and policy-makers in the design of a regional regulatory system will help fill knowledge gaps and generate conclusions regarding the trade-offs involved in regional biotechnology regulation. 2008 2024-11-21T09:50:21Z 2024-11-21T09:50:21Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160256 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Birner, Regina; Linacre, Nicholas A. 2008. Regional biotechnology regulations. IFPRI Discussion Paper 753. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160256
spellingShingle biotechnology
regulatory systems
european union
governance
Birner, Regina
Linacre, Nicholas A.
Regional biotechnology regulations: Design options and implications for good governance
title Regional biotechnology regulations: Design options and implications for good governance
title_full Regional biotechnology regulations: Design options and implications for good governance
title_fullStr Regional biotechnology regulations: Design options and implications for good governance
title_full_unstemmed Regional biotechnology regulations: Design options and implications for good governance
title_short Regional biotechnology regulations: Design options and implications for good governance
title_sort regional biotechnology regulations design options and implications for good governance
topic biotechnology
regulatory systems
european union
governance
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160256
work_keys_str_mv AT birnerregina regionalbiotechnologyregulationsdesignoptionsandimplicationsforgoodgovernance
AT linacrenicholasa regionalbiotechnologyregulationsdesignoptionsandimplicationsforgoodgovernance