The guidelines project of the IOBC global WG and risk assessment of transgenic arthropods

The guidelines project 'Development of International Scientific Biosafety Testing Guidelines for Transgenic Plants' is an international initiative of public sector scientists organized within a global Working Group on 'Transgenic Organisms in Integrated Pest Management and Biological Control' under the umbrella of the International Organization of Biological Control (IOBC). The project aims to: - develop comprehensive, transparent scientific guidelines for pre-release biosafety testing of transgenic plants, which could serve as an international standard; - extend the guidelines for possible use in post-release monitoring; - facilitate the development of the scientific capacity in developing and developed countries to implement the guidelines. - test the application the guidelines in real policy contexts to assist in the evaluation of particular transgenic crops. - publish the guidelines and periodically revise them in response to new developments thereby providing for their up-to-date, long-time use. (author)