Philippine National Biosafety Framework EO 514

The State policy is to promote the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology and its products.
The policy aims to support food security, equitable access to health services, a sustainable and safe environment, and industry development.
The framework is established to address concerns on modern biotechnology’s potential impacts on environmental biodiversity, human health, and social and cultural well-being.
The Order aligns the Philippines’ biosafety system with administrative requirements under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
The framework is meant to enhance an existing system to respond to challenges from advances in modern biotechnology and biosafety decision-making.

Section 1 adopts the National Biosafety Framework (NBF) for the Philippines.
The NBF is adopted as Annex A to Executive Order No. 514.
The NBF governs biosafety decision-making and implementation processes.
The NBF is used as the basis for strengthening the biosafety administrative system described in Section 3 and the institutional strengthening in Section 4.

Section 2.1 provides that the NBF applies to the development, adoption, and implementation of all biosafety policies, measures and guidelines.
The NBF applies to biosafety decisions concerning the research, development, handling and use, transboundary movement, release into the environment, and management of regulated articles.
Section 2.2.1 requires strengthening science-based determination of biosafety to ensure safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology.
Section 2.2.2 requires enhancing decision-making to make it efficient, predictable, effective, balanced, culturally appropriate, ethical, transparent and participatory.
Section 2.2.3 provides that the NBF serves as guidelines for implementing international obligations on biosafety.

Section 3 requires that biosafety decisions comply with the administrative system and decision-making processes established in the NBF.
Section 3 makes compliance mandatory in the making of biosafety decisions.

Section 4 strengthens the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP).
The NCBP’s mandate, functions, composition, and organization are set forth in the NBF.
Biosafety decision-making is tied to the strengthened NCBP through compliance requirements under Section 3 and coordination requirements under Section 5.

Section 5 provides that mandates, jurisdictions, and other powers of all departments and agencies in relation to biosafety and biotechnology must be guided by the NBF.
Section 5 requires coordination with the NCBP and each other in exercising those biosafety-related powers.

Section 6 requires that DOST, DENR, DA, and DOH allocate funds from their present budgets to implement the NBF.
Section 6 requires that allocated funds include support to the operations of the NCBP and its Secretariat.
Starting 2006 and thereafter, Section 6 requires that funding requirements be included in the General Appropriations Bill submitted by each of those departments to Congress.
Section 6 requires the concerned departments to enter into agreements on the sharing of financial and technical resources to support the NCBP and its Secretariat.
The funding and agreements described in Section 6 support NCBP operations and Secretariat functions.

Section 7 provides that the NCBP and its present members continue exercising their present functions under Executive Order No. 430, s. 1990.
Continuity of functions lasts until the NCBP has completely reorganized under the NBF.
Section 7 requires that reorganization commence immediately after DOST, DENR, DA, and DOH enter into an agreement on sharing of financial and technical resources to support the NCBP and its Secretariat on a sustainable basis.
Section 7 requires completion of reorganization within one year from the effective date of such agreement.
Section 7 requires that NCBP members appointed by the President, as required by the NBF, assume their positions upon completion of the reorganization.

Section 8 repeals or amends any orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, that are inconsistent with any provision of Executive Order No. 514.
Section 8 preserves the continued force of certain issuances unless amended by the respective issuing departments or agencies.
Section 8 provides that Department of Agriculture Administrative Order No. 008, s. 2002 continues in force unless amended.
Section 8 preserves the NCBP Guidelines on the Contained Use of Genetically Modified Organisms but repeals provisions on potentially harmful exotic species.
Section 8 preserves all Bureau of Food and Drugs issuances on products of modern biotechnology unless amended by the respective issuing departments or agencies.

Section 9 states that Executive Order No. 514 takes effect fifteen days after publication in two newspapers of general circulation.
The effectivity rule under Section 9 governs when the NBF adoption and institutional mandates become legally operative.