Biosafety assessment of GM crops is a science-based procedure undergone by biotech crops and processes prior to commercial release to ensure their safety to living things and to the environment. Biosafety starts from inception of the development of GMO up to commercial release. This also includes physico-chemical and biological containment procedures and facilities.

The need for a science-based safety assessment of crops derived from the use of modern biotechnology was recommended by several international organizations such as Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Word Health Organization (WHO) and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

The Philippine government supports the use of modern biotechnology in agriculture. All Philippine presidents from Ferdinand Marcos to the present have recognized the potential benefits of the safe use of modern biotechnology.

In 2001, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued the policy statement on modern biotechnology, reiterating the government policy of promoting the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology and its products as one of several means to achieve and sustain food security, equitable access to health services, sustainable and safe environment and industry development.

The Philippines has regulatory policies that govern biosafety in the country. President Corazon C. Aquino constituted the National Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP) through the issuance of Executive Order 430 in 1990. In 1991, NCBP formulated the Philippine Biosafety Guidelines, which governs the regulation of the importation or introduction, movement and field release of potentially hazardous
biological materials in the Philippines. The guidelines also describe the required physical and biological containment and safety procedures in handling biological materials.

The Department of Agriculture formulated the Administrative Order No. 8 (AO 8) that provides guidelines for the importation and release into the environment of plants and plant products derived from the use of modern biotechnology.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued Executive Order 514 (EO 514) establishing the National Biosafety Framework (NBF) in order to strengthen NCBP. Under NBF the membership of NCBP is expanded and with specific policy-making powers to address the biosafety requirements of the Cartagena Protocol.

According to EO 514, “the NBF shall apply to the development, adoption and implementation of all biosafety policies, measures and guidelines and in making decisions concerning the research, development, handling and use, transboundary movement, release into the environment and management of regulated articles”.