US embassy cable - 04RANGOON214

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Identifier:	04RANGOON214
Wikileaks:	View 04RANGOON214 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Rangoon
Created:	2004-02-19 04:59:00
Classification:	UNCLASSIFIED
Tags:	ECON ETRD SENV TBIO TSPL BM Economy
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

UNCLAS RANGOON 000214 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, EB/TPP, OES/ETC 
STATE PASS USDA/FAS/OA - BSIMMONS, USDA/APHIS/BRS - 
JTURNER, USAID - JLEWIS, FDA - RLAKE, EPA - JANDERSEN 
BANGKOK FOR FAS AND USAID 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON, ETRD, SENV, TBIO, TSPL, BM, Economy 
SUBJECT: NO BIOTECH REGULATIONS IN BURMA 
 
REF: STATE 16321 
 
1. The Burmese government currently has no laws or 
regulations on the books regarding the import of 
biotechnology-derived food products.  The Ministries of 
Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock and Fisheries, and the 
Customs Department are now forming a working committee to 
draw up a framework to address this issue and expect results 
within 18 months. 
 
2. We note that while it remains legal to export agricultural 
and other products to Burma, current U.S. policy prohibits 
U.S. government officials from encouraging or discouraging 
these exports.  U.S. law bans assistance to the government of 
Burma, all new U.S. investment in Burma, and all imports of 
Burmese products into the United States. 
Martinez