G/SPS/GEN/1699  
15 March  2019 
(19-1615) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
MINISTERIAL DECLARATION OF THE SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL COUNCIL  
(CAS) ON GENE EDITING TECHNIQUES  
COMMUNICATION FROM ARGENTINA  
The following communication, received on 1 4 March  2019, is being circulated  at the request of the 
delegation of Argentina . 
 
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1  OVERVIEW  
1.1.  The Agriculture Ministers of the member countries  of the Southern Agricultural Council (CAS) 
– Argentina, Bra zil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay  – have highlight ed the role of gene editing 
techniques  in addressing challenges arising from the need to increase agricultural production in a 
sustainable manner.  
1.2.  Gene editing techniques represent an opportunity for national agricultural research institutes 
and biotech SME s to develop products similar to those generated  by conventional breeding  methods.  
1.3.  The primary objective is to coordinate efforts to ensure that the regulatory approaches for 
these techniques are scientifically based and internationally harmonized.  
1.4.  The text of the Declara tion is non -binding on supporting countries . It seeks to prevent 
regulatory asymmetries and, in turn, potential trade disruption.  
1.5.  The Declara tion highlights the importanc e of these techniques for national agricultural research 
institutes . 
2  TEXT OF THE "MINISTERIAL DECLARATION OF THE SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL 
COUNCIL (CAS) ON GENE EDITING TECHNIQUES"  
GENE EDITING TECHNIQUES  
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL COUNCIL  (CAS)  
XXXV ORDINARY MEETING  
 
CAS/Co uncil, Declara tion II (XXXV 2018)  
Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2 0 September  2018 
Original : Spanish  
 G/SPS/GEN/1699  
- 2 - 
  Ministerial Declara tion: 
The Agriculture Minist ers of Argentina, Bra zil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, member  countries  of 
the Southern Agricultural Council  (CAS), meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina , 
Consider  that: 
1. Crops improved by gene editing have the potential to play a fundamental  role in addressing the 
challenges facing agricultural production by helping  to increas e the supply of foods and other 
agricultural products  in a sustainable manner . 
 
2. Gene editing can genera te crops similar to those obtained through other conventional breeding  
methods.  
3. The CAS countries are making public and private investments  in the development of crops 
improved by gene editing  because this can speed up access for agricultural  producers and consumers 
to new features of interest for producti on and agro -industr y, while representing an opportunity for 
the transfer of technologies developed by national agricultural research institutes and biotech SMEs.  
4. Any arbitrary and u njustified distinc tions between agricultural products obtained by gene editing 
and those obtained through other breeding  methods  must be avoided.  
Declar e that : 
1. They will exchange informa tion on the development of products and existing  regulatory 
framewo rks applicable to them, exploring science -based opportunities for the harmonization of 
regional and international regulations.  
2. They will seek to work together  with third countries to avoid non-science -based barriers  to trad e 
in agricultural  products  improved by gene editing.  
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