MALAYSIA CALLS FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION IN BIOSECURITY

MELAKA (Malaysia), Oct 13 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is calling for regional
cooperation in the area of Biosecurity which is a set of policies aimed at,
among others, the protection of the environment, food safety and the
agricultural and food industries in the region.

"Many developing countries and countries with economies in transition
including Malaysia have insufficient risk analysis capacities in terms of
regulation and manpower to support Biosecurity framework for both imports and
exports," Minister of Agriculture aand Agro-based Industry Mustapa Mohamed said
at the official opening of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Workshop
on "Understanding and Developing Risk Management Options for Market Acess" here
Monday.

Mustapa's speech text was read by Ibrahim Mohd, Deputy Director General,
Department of Agriculture.

Among the countries participating in the four-day workshop were APEC
members
Australia, Japan, United States, Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia as well as
non-APEC economies such as Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

Mustapa said Biosecurity was one of the most important issues faced by not
only developing economies but also developed economies.

"Biosecurity is a strategic and integrated approach that encompasses the
policy and regulatory framework (including instruments and activities) that
analyse and manage risks in the sectors of food security, animal life and
health, and plant life and health, including associated environmental risk," he
said.

Mustapa also said that among the major economic issues facing the world at
the moment was the increase in food prices and that there was an estimated more
than 850 million people who go hungry everyday.

He said the world would have to produce more food and increase food
production areas and productivity in order to tackle this problem.