The Fourth Meeting of the TURKPA Commission on Environment and Natural Resources hosted by the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic took place on 14 September 2018 in Bishkek and attended by the parliamentarians from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey. The main item of the meeting’s agenda was "Effects of Spread of Genetically Modified Organisms".

The meeting was chaired by Mr Ahliman Amiraslanov, Chairman of the TURKPA Commission on Environment and Natural Resources and Chairman of the Health Committee of the Milli Mejlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan. At his opening speech, Mr. Amiraslanov stressed the importance of the workshop on “Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): Legislation and Practices” that was held on 16 April 2018 in Istanbul, where experts from participating countries gave detailed information about the issue and the work done in this field at the national level. The Chairman also stressed that TURKPA member countries are selected by the rich bidiversity that needs to be maintained through improving a legislative framework and benefited from science's achievements within the minimum risk. Mr. Amiraslanov emphasized that, from this point of view, it is crucial for the Commission to examine the current situation on the matter, to analyze existing gaps in the legislation, and share positive experience and best practices among the member countries.

Parliamentarians discussed potential for cooperation between the member countries on GMO and stressed the necessity for enhancing control mechanisms over such sensitive issues.

The Commission approved report and recommendations presented accordingly by Mr. Recep Sheker, Deputy Chairman of the Commission and member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, and Ahliman Amiraslanov, Chairman of the Commission, as well as conclusions of the Istanbul workshop presented by Mr. Emin Hasanov, Secretary of the Commission. The documents will be submitted to the TURKPA 8th Plenary Session to take place in November 2018 in Turkey.