the Advisory National Commission for Rural Biotechnology (CONABIA, Comision
Nacional Asesora de Biotecnologia Agropecuaria).59 This advisory group, composed of
representatives from the government and the private sector, helped the government to
develop a regulatory framework for the application and commercialization of
biotechnology in agriculture.60 As a consequence, in 1992 the CONABIA recommended
that the Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Fishing enact a set of rules and
requirements for the approval of experimentation with genetically modified seeds. The
Secretary responded with Resolution 656/92 for Genetically Modified Microorganisms.61
Accordingly, the CONABIA is in charge of reviewing all the applications for the use of
genetically modified organisms and recommending the approval or denial of each
application to the Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Fishing.62 This resolution was
improved with further regulations for the trials in each crop by Resolution 226/97, also
recommended by the CONABIA.63 The regulation of these permits was enacted by
Resolution 289/97, complemented by Resolution 131/98, and replaced by Resolution
39/03.64 From 1991 to 2004, the Secretary gave 788 permits for experimentation with
genetically modified organisms.65
59 See Secretaria de Agricultura Ganaderia y Pesca [SAGyP], Resolucion No. 124/91 (Oct. 24, 1991),
available at http://www.senasa.gov.ar/marcolegal/Res_RY/ry_124_91.htm.
60 Resolution 328/97 establishes that
The Commission is composed of two representatives from INTA (National Institute of Agriculture and
Livestock Technology), two from the National University of Buenos Aires (UBA), two from the Argentine
Forum of Biotechnology, two from the Asociacion de Semilleros Argentinos (Argentine Seed Producers
Association), two from the private livestock sector, two from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones
Cientificas y Tecnicas (CONICET), two from INASE, four from the National Service of Agricultural and
food Safety and Quality (SENASA) and some directors of specific government agencies, two
professionals on issues of livestock safety and quality, two professionals on issues of plant safety and
quality, and other directors from specific government agencies.
Secretaria de Agricultura Ganaderia y Pesca [SAGyP], Resolucion No. 328/97 (May 28, 1997), available
at http://infoleg.mecon.gov.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/40000-44999/43548/norma.htm. The
composition of the CONABIA was modified in part by the Resolution 244/04:
The Commission is composed of two representatives from INTA (National Agriculture and Livestock
Technology Institute), two from the National University of Buenos Aires (UBA), two from the Argentine
Forum of Biotechnology, two from the Asociacion de Semilleros Argentinos (Argentine Seed Producers
Association), two from the private livestock sector, two from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones
Cientificas y Tecnicas (CONICET) and some directors of specific government agencies.
Secretaria de Agricultura Ganaderia y Pesca [SAGyP], Resolucion No. 244/04 (Feb. 18, 2004), available
at http://infoleg.mecon.gov.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/90000-94999/93050/norma.htm.
61 See Oficina de BɪoτECNOLOG^A, SECRETAR^A de Agricultura, GANADER^A, Pesca y Alimentos, Marco
Regulatorio de la Biotecnologia Agropecuaria en La Republica Argentina 234 (2005).
62 See Secretaria de Agricultura, Ganaderia, Pesca y Alimentos, Bioseguridad Agropecuaria: La
Experience de la coNABiA [hereinafter coNABiA Experience],
http://www.sagpya.mecon.gov.ar/new/0-0/programas/conabia/bioseguridad_agropecuaria2.php (last
visited Feb. 27, 2006).
63 See id.
64 See id.
65 See id.
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