NO BIOTECH REGULATIONS IN BURMA

UNCLAS RANGOON 000214 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, EB/TPP, OES/ETC STATE PASS USDA/FAS/OA - BSIMMONS, USDA/APHIS/BRS - JTURNER, USAID - JLEWIS, FDA - RLAKE, EPA - JANDERSEN BANGKOK FOR FAS AND USAID E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD SENV TBIO TSPL BM SUBJECT: NO BIOTECH REGULATIONS IN BURMA REF: STATE 16321 ¶1. The Burmese government currently has no laws or regulations on the books regarding the import of biotechnology-derived food products. The Ministries of Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock and Fisheries, and the Customs Department are now forming a working committee to draw up a framework to address this issue and expect results within 18 months. ¶2. We note that while it remains legal to export agricultural and other products to Burma, current U.S. policy prohibits U.S. government officials from encouraging or discouraging these exports. U.S. law bans assistance to the government of Burma, all new U.S. investment in Burma, and all imports of Burmese products into the United States. Martinez