|
|
| Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC, is the premier forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region. APEC is the only inter-governmental grouping in the world operating on the basis of non-binding commitments, open dialogue and equal respect for the views of all participants. Unlike the WTO or other multilateral trade bodies, APEC has no treaty obligations required of its participants. Decisions made within APEC are reached by consensus and commitments are undertaken on a voluntary basis. |
| AGRICULTURAL TECHNICAL COOPERATION WORKING GROUP (ATCEG) |
| Established in November 1996, the Agriculture Technical Cooperation Working Group (ATCWG) promotes agricultural technical cooperation between APEC Member Economies. The aim is to improve the economic development and social welfare of Member Economies by improving agricultural cooperation and capacity building. |
| AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE |
| APEC Member Economies recognize that biotechnolgy can advance economic development, increase productivity in the agricultural sector, improve nutrition and reduce the evnivronmental impact of agricultural production. APEC Ministers have also recognized the importance of economies' efforts to obtain the general public's understanding and confidence in the safety of these products when introducing them into the market. As such, the RDEAB and the HLPDAB were established. |
| AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION WORKING GROUP'S SUB-GROUP ON RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION OF AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY (RDEAB) |
| The RDEAB is focusing on developing transparent, science-based approaches for risk assessment and management, fostering technical cooperation, encouraging effective communication, transparency and information exchange and building capacity. Its work includes capacity building activities on risk assessment, risk management and risk communications; the sharing of regulatory experiences; developing research on the effects of gene flow and the effects of GM crops in centres of origin; and encouraging a dialogue between the private and public sectors to promote research and the development of biotechnology. |
| APEC HIGH LEVEL POLICY DIALOGUE ON AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY (HLPDAB) |
| An unofficial group created in 2001, the HLPDAB works to enhance communication and technical exchange among senior government officials on pollicy issues related to biotechnology. It is intended tat the HLPDAB will develop into a braod-based forum for discussions of trade and policy implementation matters between agricultural biotechnology policy-makers. The HLPDAB works closely with the RDEAB to assure no overlap in mandate occurs. |
