This document was developed in accordance with Articles 7 and 11 of the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic "On Biological Safety." Its goal is to eliminate shortcomings in legal regulation and create a comprehensive approach to preventing biological threats and risks.
As stated in the explanatory note, under conditions of globalization, climate change, migration, and active trade in livestock products, the threat of new infections and the spread of animal diseases that pose a danger to humans significantly increases. The risk of the emergence of biotechnology products threatening biodiversity and the occurrence of emergencies of a technogenic and bioterrorist nature also increases.
The draft resolution creates administrative and procedural foundations for effective interaction between agencies, clearly defining who should provide what information and within what timeframes. The document includes a wide range of state bodies involved in ensuring biosafety, such as the ministries of health, veterinary medicine, agriculture, as well as environmental and technical supervision bodies, customs and border services, and digital development structures.
Within the framework of this project, the concept of a Unified Biological Data Platform (UBDP) is introduced, and a mechanism for transitioning from normal conditions to an emergency situation is provided, laying the groundwork for a digital ecosystem for interaction. An interagency approach will allow for the distribution of powers, responsibilities, and control functions, as well as ensure timely information exchange and coordination of actions in the event of biological threats.
The Procedure for Interaction between State Authorities and Local Self-Government Bodies to Ensure Biological Safety Considering the Provisions of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
APPROVED
By the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers
of the Kyrgyz Republic
dated "___" ___________ 2025 No. ____
Procedure for Interaction between State Authorities and Local Self-Government Bodies to Ensure Biological Safety Considering the Provisions of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
I. General Provisions
This Procedure defines the order and procedures for interaction between state authorities and local self-government bodies (hereinafter referred to as Interaction Participants) and other organizations for the implementation of the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic "On Biological Safety," prevention, detection, assessment, and elimination of biological threats, as well as ensuring state security in handling products of modern biotechnology, including the handling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the transboundary movement of biological agents.
The main principles of interaction are:
- the necessity and timeliness of performing the procedures established by this Procedure and its Appendices;
- precaution and risk prevention;
- informational transparency and access to data (including the national exchange point - Biosafety Clearing-House);
- scientific justification of decisions;
- accountability and mutual control of state authorities;
- compliance with international standards (WHO, FAO, EAEU, OECD).
Interaction is carried out in two modes:
- Routine Activity Mode – planned data exchange and coordination of preventive and control measures.
- Biological Emergency Situation Mode (Emergency Mode) – interaction in the event of a specific biological threat or incident that may lead to an emergency situation.
The transition from Routine Activity Mode to Emergency Mode is carried out in accordance with the Regulation on Actions upon Detection of a Signal Event (Appendix 2).
II. Interaction Participants and Their Key Roles
The key participants in the interaction are:
- The Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic - responsible for defining priorities for economic development and implementing state policy in the areas of economy, trade, taxes, and customs.
- The Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic (Ministry of Agriculture) – controls epizootic and phytosanitary risks, veterinary and phytosanitary supervision.
- The Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic (Ministry of Natural Resources)- is responsible for environmental protection, ensuring ecological safety, rational use of natural resources, and climate change control.
- The Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic (Ministry of Health) – responsible for assessing biological risks to public health and sanitary-epidemiological supervision.
- The Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic (MES) – coordinates response to emergencies and maintains a register of potentially dangerous biological objects.
- The Ministry of Digital Development of the Kyrgyz Republic (Ministry of Digital Development) – responsible for the technical support and development of the Unified Biological Data Platform (UBDP).
- The State Customs Service under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic (Customs Service) – controls the transboundary movement of biological agents.
- Local state administrations and local self-government bodies – provide current local data and interact with the population.
- Other bodies (Ministry of Internal Affairs, State Committee for National Security, Border Service, etc.) – participate according to their competence.
The Interagency Commission on Biological Safety under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic (hereinafter referred to as the Commission) is the coordinating body in Emergency Mode and carries out control and analytical activities in Routine Activity Mode.
III. Regulations for Interaction
Interaction in Routine Activity Mode is carried out according to the Data Exchange Regulation (Appendix 1), which establishes the list of data and deadlines for providing information.
The procedure for activating the Emergency Mode is carried out in accordance with the Regulation on Actions upon Detection of a Signal Event (Appendix 2). The beginning of activation is considered the registration of the "Signal Event Card" in the UBDP and the automatic distribution of information to key state authorities.
Interaction in Emergency Mode is carried out in accordance with the Regulation on Interaction in Biological Emergency Situations (Appendix 3), which defines the responsibilities of the Operational Headquarters and Working Groups.
Special interaction procedures are applied regarding:
- monitoring, risk assessment, and handling of products of modern biotechnology;
- control and accounting of transboundary movement of biological agents..
Unified document forms (Appendix 4) are used for documenting interactions, which are mandatory for all state authorities..
IV. Final Provisions
Failure to comply with the established procedures and deadlines for interaction specified in this Procedure and its Appendices entails liability in accordance with the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic.
This Procedure should be reviewed at least once every five years, as well as upon the implementation of new information systems and changes in the international obligations of the Kyrgyz Republic.
To address interaction issues, interagency exercises are conducted at least once a year.
Cooperation with international organizations and competent authorities of foreign states is carried out in accordance with international treaties of the Kyrgyz Republic through the authorized state body.
APPENDIX CONTENT
Appendix 1: Data Exchange Regulation in Routine Activity Mode
- Tables with specific data (e.g., "Laboratory Monitoring Data on Resistance in Humans," "Information on Epizootic Situation by Regions," "Monitoring Results of Vectors," "Register of Issued Licenses for Work with Pathogens."
- For each entry: Sender, Recipient, Deadline/Frequency, Data Format, Responsible Official..
Appendix 2: Regulation on Actions upon Detection of a Signal Event
- Criteria for a signal event (e.g., group illness with an unknown cause, animal deaths, accident at a facility with a potentially dangerous biological agent, detection of a quarantine object at the border).
- Step-by-step algorithm (1-4 steps, as described earlier) with timeframes.
- Screenshot/description of the "Signal Event Card (SEC-1)" form with mandatory fields.
Appendix 3: Regulation on Interaction in Emergency Mode
- Organizational structure diagram: Commission → Operational Headquarters (appointed by order) → Working Groups..
- Schedule and regulation of meetings (daily briefings of the headquarters, three-day planning cycles by the Commission).
- Responsibilities of the head of the Operational Headquarters and each working group.
- Procedure for maintaining the "Emergency Event Journal" in the UBDP.
Appendix 4: Unified Document Forms
- Form SEC-1: Signal Event Card.
- Form OID-1: Report on Biological Data.
- Form PD-1: Action Plan for 72 Hours.
- Form IR-1: Information Message for the Public.
