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APEC
The APEC forum is the premier forum for supporting economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia Pacific region. In 2007, Australia hosted the 16th round of annual APEC meetings culminating in the Leaders’ Meeting in Sydney in September.
The 21 APEC Member Economies represent over 40 per cent of the world’s population, 56 per cent of global GDP and 48 per cent of world trade. Domestically, they account for 70 per cent of Australia’s trade, almost 50 per cent of inward investment and comprise eight of our top 10 export markets.
Within APEC, DAFF is responsible for issues relating to agricultural and food policy, quarantine, fisheries, and agricultural aspects of biosecurity and biotechnology. In 2007, the Department hosted meetings of three APEC fora:
High Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology
Fisheries Working Group
Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group
High Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology (HLPDAB)
The APEC HLPDAB is an important forum for information exchange on the use of biotechnology in agriculture. It provides an opportunity to promote public policy development to support the responsible use of agricultural biotechnology.
At the 6th HLPDAB, held on 19-21 January 2007 in Canberra, government officials from APEC’s Member Economies shared their own experiences with agricultural biotechnology in fruitful discussions on ways to develop greater understanding and acceptance of the use of the technology in agriculture. The HLPDAB considered in particular the public perception of biotechnology and legal considerations related to the use of agricultural biotechnology.
Information on the HLPDAB is available on the APEC website.
For further information please contact:
Biotechnology Policy
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Phone: +61 2 6272 5775
Email
Fisheries Working Group (FWG)
The fisheries industry sector in APEC Member Economies presently accounts for over 75 per cent of the world’s capture fisheries and over 90 per cent of the world aquaculture production.
The 18th FWG meeting was held from 23-26 April 2007, at the Gold Coast, Queensland, with the 6th Joint Meeting of the FWG and Marine Resource Conservation Working Group held on 27 April 2007. FWG addressed key fisheries issues for the region across the broad themes of fisheries management, aquaculture and trade. A number of APEC projects were discussed to support progress on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, implementation of the Bali Plan of Action, and sustainable aquaculture development.
Information on the FWG is available on the APEC website.
For further information, please contact:
Mr Franco Alvarez (FWG and joint meeting)
Governance, Trade and Aquaculture
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Phone: +61 2 6272 4694
Fax: +61 2 6272 4215
Email
Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group (ATCWG)
The ATCWG aims to improve economic development and social welfare in the APEC region by promoting agricultural technical cooperation between APEC member economies. The ATCWG addresses seven priority areas - conservation and utilisation of plant and animal genetic resources; research, development and extension of agricultural biotechnology, production, processing, marketing, distribution and consumption of agricultural products, plant and animal quarantine and pest management, cooperative development of agricultural finance systems, agricultural technology transfer and training, and sustainable agriculture and related environment issues.
The 11th ATCWG meeting was held 28-31 May 2007, Brisbane, Queensland, and focused on several key issues including domestic structural adjustment in the agricultural sector and sustainable land management.
Information on the ATCWG is available on the APEC website.
For further information, please contact:
Ms Madeleine Baldwin
Multilateral Trade
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Phone: +61 2 6272 4339
Fax: +61 2 6272 4600
Email