Interns from Egypt participated in the following ABSP sponsored Biosafety internship programs and workshops:

• ABSP Biosafety Internship Program, May-July 1993.  Michigan, USA.

• USAID Latin America and Caribbean Region (LAC) Biosafety Workshop, May 1993.  Jamaica.

• Training on Bio-containment Greenhouse Management, March-April 1994.  Arizona, USA.

• ABSP Biosafety Internship Program, August 1995.  Michigan , USA.

Biosafety interns from AGERI were trained at the Biotechnology, Biologics, and Environmental Protection (BBEP) division of USDA/APHIS. The resources of BBEP and MSU have been made available to interns, providing them with training in implementing and documenting the evaluation of genetically engineered organisms (GEOs) and updates on food safety issues related to GEOs.  At MSU and later in Washington D.C. they received training in risk assessment and field test creation. The interns interacted with personnel from federal agencies such as USDA/APHIS, FDA and EPA and were made aware of the current and emerging regulatory policies throughout the world.

This regional biosafety workshop brought together worldwide expertise to address various biosafety issues.

• Review the current status of biosafety in North Africa and the Middle East.

• Provide participants with information on biosafety guidelines and regulations from other developing and developed countries.

• Provide a forum for discussion of biosafety issues including movement of transgenic germplasm; laboratory, greenhouse and field testing; gene flow; food safety, etc.

• Highlight potential application risks and benefits of biosafety regulations.

• Enhance regional networking capabilities in biosafety.