Due to the accession of the Baltic States to European Union and hot debates on international arena on the Cartagena Protocol, the gene engineering (or genetically modified organism; biosafety) became an issue of the concern of the BEF agenda in 1998.
The issue was new for the Baltic competent authorities as well as for other interest groups and the system had to be set-up from zero: building up a legislative framework for GMO handling, creating institutions and defining responsibilities, increasing capacities and knowledge of involved stakeholders.
The increasing awareness, exchanging know-how with different countries and regular information exchange on the development in the field have been seen as essential the key areas for the BEF. In cooperation with other ongoing international projects workshops and training for the involved stakeholders have and will be performed.
