Following the launch of the Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS) in May 2003, the PBS Consortium is pleased to announce its second annual review meeting. The meeting will involve the PBS Consortium (see below), its recently constituted External Advisory Board, representatives of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), partner-country representatives and invited biosafety experts.

PBS's unique approach addresses biosafety as part of a sustainable development strategy, anchored by agriculture-led economic growth, trade, and environment objectives. The program assists national governments in implementing the policies and procedures necessary to evaluate and manage the potential harmful effects of modern biotechnology on the environment and human health. Among the Consortium's goals are to:

• Define new models for policy and regulatory collaboration
• Improve regional cooperation on issues related to genetically modified organisms and expand management skills in the area of biosafety;
• Assist governments in making science-based decisions about the effects on biodiversity of introducing genetically engineered organisms into the environment;
• Build collaboration between agricultural research and environmental conservation communities;
• Assist partner countries in regulating and safely conducting experimental field trials.

The purpose of the upcoming meeting is to review accomplished activities in research, capacity building and outreach, and to consult on proposed activities and methodologies by PBS. Consultations during the meeting will cover the following subjects:

• New models for biosafety regulation - contributing studies on policy, risk, and regulatory analysis and costing for pubic biotechnology products
• Environmental risk assessment research grants - evaluation and small grant proposals
• Outreach, capacity building and risk communication
• Regulatory approval strategies and dossier development
• Strategies and work plans with regional and national partners in Asia and Africa
• Confined field-trial strategies and approaches
• Presentations and review of PBS partners involved in biotechnology and biosafety capacity development
• PBS impact assessment and milestones
• Program management, administration and funding