Bill on the Ratification of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

The House of Representatives (DPR) in their plenary session of 28 February 2006 has agreed to pass the Ratification Bill which will regulate all matters related to genetic plant resources used in food and agriculture. The ratification of this international treaty has been characterized as a double-edged sword for Indonesia in that the treaty will require Indonesia to make available any expertise and knowledge that it has in relation to the subject matter of the treaty. However, it should not be forgotten that Indonesia will have the same access to other signatories' data at the same time.

This Bill when enacted will comprise a part of the regulatory framework governing genetically modified foodstuffs, biodiversity, and beneficial plant systems encompassed in Government Regulation 21 of 2005, Law No. 21 of 2004, and Law No. 12 of 1992 respectively.