Welcome to the bch pilipinas

With the global effort to sustainably conserve and use the Earth’s genetic resources, the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to set guidelines for safe transfer handling and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology.

The Protocol’s need for information sharing as stated in Article 20 has set grounds for establishing the Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH). The BCH, as a part of the clearing-house mechanism, is a knowledge and information exchange tool that facilitates the implementation of the Protocol.

The Philippines, being a Party to the Protocol, set up the BCH Pilipinas as the country’s node to the said purpose. It serves as a ‘one-stop shop’ where users can easily search and retrieve biosafety-related information. It also forges collaboration among the regulatory agencies and their partners to extend information services for the benefit of public and private research institutions, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders.

Similarly, the BCH Pilipinas provides an operational platform where users are directed to activities and opportunities aimed at building capacity for biosafety (i.e. minimize the environmental and health risks of LMOs) in the field of risk assessment, risk management, and risk communication of LMOs. Said activities enhance the availability and exchange of relevant information in a transparent, accurate and timely manner.