Welcome to the Trinidad & Tobago Biosafety Website
Trinidad and Tobago became a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1996. Articles 8 (g) and 8 (h) of the Convention outline the obligations of the Parties to ensure that the necessary measures are taken to address Biosafety issues as a result of the use and applications of modern biotechnology.
Biosafety is one of the key issues addressed by the CBD and a supplemental agreement known as the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) which came into force in September, 2003 focuses on biosafety issues. The BCH is established as part of the Clearing-house Mechanism under Article 18 of the CBD to facilitate the exchange of scientific, technical, environmental and legal information.
The BCH is a web-based storehouse for up-to-date information on Biosafety and Living modified Organisms (LMOs), and is managed by the Secretariat of the CBD. Countries are required to input and manage their own data in the BCH.
EMA
The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) is a statutory body which was established by the government of Trinidad and Tobago to address the nation's growing environmental concerns. It was established with the enactment of the Environmenal Management Act of 1995, which was subsequently ammended in 2000. The legislation is aimed at ensuring the protection, conservation and enhancement of the environment of Trinidad and Tobago. The Ministry of Planning, Housing and the Environment is the Focal Point for the CBD and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The Environmental Management Authority is the National Executing Agency (NEA) for the Biosafety Framework Project and the Focal Point for the Biosafety Clearing House (BCH).