Antigua and Barbuda is a two-island nation which is located in the Eastern Caribbean.  The population of under 100,000 - with approximately 1600 living in Barbuda just prior to the September 2017 devastation by Hurricane Irma - is largely of African descent.  The economy is largely service oriented, with trade imports contributing approximately US$450 million, and exports amounting to about US$40 million.

The Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety were ratified by Antigua and Barbuda on December 29, 1993 and December 9, 2003, respectively.  The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing was ratified on March 12, 2017.

Antigua and Barbuda has, since 2002, been actively involved in assessing, developing and implementing a national biosafety framework for the country.  Stakeholder consultations, training of regulators, development of national draft legislation, regulatory attachments and other capacity building activities constitute the main efforts in the process.  In recent times, through a UNEP-GEF funded regional project, several activities were undertaken at the regional level with a view to harmonise the issue of biosafety across the Caribbean region.

Food and feed safety assessment capacity building stakeholder training activities were conducted in the first quarter of 2018 to assist te country in the process going forward.

The development of the GMO safety assessment currently used in the Russian Federation started in 1995–1996. The methodological approaches to comprehensive complex medical and biological assessment of GMOs were developed in the Russian Federation with due regard for international and national experience as well as new scientific approaches based on the achievements of contemporary fundamental science: genomic and proteomic analysis, detection of DNA damage or mutagenic activity, identification of products of free-radical modifications of DNA or other sensitive biomarkers. GMO safety assessment is carried out for the state registration. Any novel food derived from plant GMO produced in Russia or imported into Russia for the first time is subject to the state registration . Guidance for safety assessment is specified in MU 2.3.2.2306-07 “Medico-Biological Safety Assessment of Plant Genetically Modified Organisms”. According to the accepted regulations,the human health assessment of a novel GMO to be placed on the domestic market includes the following: ■ Molecular assessment includes analysis of genetic construction, genetic modification method, and the gene expression level. ■ Technological assessment includes determination of organoleptic and functional properties, analysis of technological characteristics of the finished products. ■ Human health safety assessment includes several sections of required assessments: analysis of compositional equivalence and toxicological,genotoxicological, and allergological safety studies. ■ Methods for identification include qualitative and quantitative assay of GMO in food (studies targeted at determination of correspondence of these methods to those used in Russia in order to provide monitoring of use and labeling of GM food). The list and the scope of required studies is determined on the basis of analysis of information of the GMO submitted for registration; however, the above-mentioned studies are required. If significant changes in the GMO’s genome, proteome, or metabolome are shown, additional studies may be required to determine: biological value and absorbency reproductive effect; gonadotoxic, embryotoxic, teratotoxic effect; potential carcinogenic effect; lifetime, etc.

Russia follows the national Methodical Guidelines  2.3.2.3388-16 “Medical and biological safety assessment of genetically modified stack events of plant origin ”

Our position regarding GM stacks registration is very close to the EU approach.