E-mail:
Country:
Uruguay
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Ministerio de Ganadería, Agricultura y Pesca
Contact person name:
Alejandra Ferenczi
Website:
Physical full address:
Constituyente 1476, Piso 2, Of. 212B. Montevideo, Uruguay
Phone number:
+598 2 4104155 int 3
Fax number:
Country introduction
Summary:
The Uruguayan National Biosafety System (SNB for its acronym in Spanish) includes safety assessments of food end feed, environmental risk assessment, risk management, and risk communication. The National Biosafety Cabinet (GNBio) is the competent authority on biosafety of GMOs. Integrated by: The Minister of Agriculture, MGAP (chair); Minister of Health (MSP); Minister of Economy (MEF); Minister of Environment (MVOTMA); Minister of Foreign Affairs (MRREE); and Minister of Industry (MIEM). This Cabinet is the last responsible to make decisions over a submitted request. It has the authority to define policies to be followed with respect to biosafety in all scopes of GMO application. Other committees of experts and scientists give support to decisions of GNBio through risk analysis of biotechnological products. The Risk Management Commission (CGR) is composed by one delegate of each of the ministries represented within GNBio. The CGR advises GNBio on GMO biosecurity issues; elaborates reference terms for risk assessments; manages the risk communication participation process; is responsible for follow-up and monitoring of authorized events. The Risk Assessment in Biosecurity (ERB) is composed of experts proposed by the CGR and designated by GNBio among specialists in the different areas of risk assessment. Is responsible for considering, on a case-by-case basis, the potential risks and benefits of each new biotech product; assure case-by-case risk assessment evaluation based on scientific methods; writes an operational plan (pre-report) of risk assessment according to CGR directives; advises CGR based on the results of the analysis of risk assessment, and provides information during the consultation process. The Institutional Articulation Committee (CAI) is a committee of technical experts from nine different national public and research institutions, which analyzes the risk assessment of new events and prepares a technical report. The technical analysis is coordinated by ERB organized in different ad hoc groups of experts. The Ad hoc experts groups are technical-scientific specialists in different areas of knowledge related to the analysis of GMO events like characterization and molecular identification of events, environmental and food safety aspects.
Framework
Regulatory framework:
My country has a regulatory framework that requires the competent authority to conduct safety assessment of GM food.
Structure for GM food safety assessment:
My country has competent authority, agency, organization, ministry, department, committee, commission or a system/mechanism that is tasked to conduct or review GM food safety assessment.
Supplemental information:
Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:
GNBio office. E-mail: [email protected]; Adress: Constituyente 1476, piso 2, oficina 212B, Montevideo 11200, Uruguay.
Assessment
GM food safety assessment guidelines:
My country follows the relevant Codex Guidelines or national/regional guidelines that are in line with the Codex Guidelines in conducting safety assessment of GM food.
Conduct of GM food safety assessment:
My country regularly conducts food safety assessment of GM food.
Supplemental information on the implementation:
Stacked events
Regulation of stacked events:
In my country, GM food/feed that contains stacked event(s) is considered as a new product even if all single events that are stacked have already approved.
Supplemental information on the stacked events:
GM vegetables from cross-pollinated species, such as corn, with stacked events are not considered as a new product. In the case of GM vegetables from self-pollinated species, such as soybean, are considered as a new product even if all single events stacked have already been approved. However, there is an abbreviated analysis procedure in cases where single events were already analyzed. Stacked events not yet analyzed must have the individual risk assessment report.
Production and trade
GM food/feed production:
My country produces GM food or feed for commercial and research purposes.
GM food/feed imports:
My country allows imports GM food or feed upon authorization.
Supplemental information on the production and trade:
LLP/AP incidents
LLP/AP incidents:
My country has faced LLP/AP situations in the last 10 years.
Supplemental information on the LLP/AP incidents:
Labelling requirement
Labelling requirement:
My country has a mandatory and positive labeling regulation on GM food (i.e., It contains GMO).
Supplemental information on the Labelling requirement:
Uruguay has a mandatory and positive labeling regulation on GM food only in the capital of the country, in Montevideo.
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment
Other relevant documents:
Country information last modified:
05/09/2019
