• Myanmar: Import requires registration by DOA and a license issued by the Ministry of Commerce. For export, the provisions of the importing country must be observed and a license issued by the Ministry of Commerce is required. • The Philippines: The import and export of imported or local BCA is under the Biodiversity Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Also the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) issues permits, depending on the product involved. They may offer tax exemption if needed. The Bureau of Customs (Department of Finance - DOF) is responsible for the import or export clearance and collects tax. • Singapore: The import of biological control agent is regulated by AVA under the Control of Plants (Plant Importation) Rules. A "biological control agent" (BCA) is defined as a natural enemy, an antagonist or a competitor of a pest, or any other self-replicating biotic entity, used for pest control. AVA will conduct an Import Risk Analysis (IRA) on the organism to be imported. Import will be granted only when the risk is considered acceptable. Export of BCA is currently not regulated. • Thailand: Import requires a registration and license issued by the DOA. Living micro-organisms 49 need approval from the quarantine office (a pest risk analysis is required). The customs is responsible for clearance. Quality is checked through random sampling. Export requires an export license from the DOA, while the product must be registered in the destination country. • Vietnam: Import is regulated by the MARD and the MOF (Ministry of Finance). If a product is registered in Vietnam, no license is required for import. If a product is not registered, an import license is needed. Export must be in compliance with the requirements of the importing country. We emphasise that BCA are most likely to be competitive with simplified and harmonised regulatory procedures. As simple as this seems, harmonisation of paperwork and formats could be highly effective: having first agreed on a single standard. Because AMS show significant differences with regard to technical and human resource capabilities, it will also be important that countries help each other to remove the barriers to successful implementation of biological control. Further harmonisation, information exchange, mutual recognition of data requirements and dossiers would all be steps in the right direction. 5 Strategy for Improvement of Regulation and Use 5.1 Needs for the ASEAN Region During the meetings of the ASEAN Regional BCA expert groups on regulation and application, participants identified a number of areas in which ASEAN Guidelines could be of assistance11, which can broadly be summarised to include: • Development of appropriate national regulations • ASEAN regional cooperation and networking on biological control 11 Summary, minutes and conclusions of 1st, 2nd and 3rd meetings; ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (Biocontrol)
Implementing Biological Control Agents in the ASEAN Region
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