Bracing for GM Crops

The Status of Regulations for GM crops in African

Countries Today

ByByFrancis Nang’ayo, Ph.D.Francis Nang’ayo, Ph.D.

AATF, Nairobi, KenyaAATF, Nairobi, Kenya

Outline• Modern Biotechnology: mixed signals

– Proponents and opponents of GM crops

• Significance of Regulations

• Historical reference to CBD and the Protocol

• Contracting Parties to the Protocol

• Components of National Biosafety Framework

• Status of NBFs in Africa

• Concluding remarks

Biotechnology – mixed signals!

• The advent of modern biotechnology and especially its potential for application in medicine, agriculture, food processing, manufacturing and environmental management was greeted with breathtaking expectations.

• The development and application of biotechnology in a safe and sustainable manner remains a subject of considerable debate worldwide.

• Concerns, anxiety and fears have been raised about safety and ethical aspects of genetically modified organisms to consumers and the environment.

Voices on BiotechnologyIn 2002, US President

George Bush accused the European Union of blocking efforts to fight famine in Africa because of "unfounded and unscientific " fears over genetically modified foods.

“… The Twentieth

century will be biological and diverse with

biotechnology being the

kingpin of the

process”

President Levy Mwanawasa's government cited health and environmental risks for its refusal of the grain and said it would not allow Zambians to be used as guinea pigs just because of the hunger

Chance Kabaghe, deputy agriculture minister, said “…We still feel that the country is not ready to accept genetically modified foods without proper

research on its effects"

Prince of Wales: Described GM food as “Frankenstein Food”

“The use of GMOs has the potential to offer

real benefits in agricultural practice, food quality, nutrition

and health, and we support on-going

research in this field”

The Royal Society, UK

Other Voices• GM food could 'set Africa free' … Democratic

Republic of Congo ambassador Bene Moko said a country unable to feed its people will never be free. "Biotechnology could help Africa rid itself of poverty and famine for good."

• Angola Bans GM food…Gilberto Buta Lutucuta,minister of agriculture and rural development, told the Angolan Press Agency that the food was rejected "because so far we don't know for sure what impact these products might have on either human or animal health." Furthermore, Angola has a complete lack of GM regulatory systems - there is no national biosafety framework and no legislation concerning GM products.

Varied Positions GM technology

• The need for regulating GM technology and any other technologies cannot be over-emphasised

• Biosafety is now a weighty issue that cannot be wished away

• Forming national agenda of many countries

• There are good reasons why GM technology aught to be regulated!

Regulations & ComplianceIMAGINE!!!!The Flow of Traffic in a country: • …with roads without traffic signs or traffic

police• where drunk driving is not a crime• where vehicles have no MOT, nor

insurance• where drivers and passengers change

roles freely• with no traffic laws nor regulations• …how will traffic flow be?

CHAOS!!!!

Often, disaster strikes, necessitating formulation of regulations!

Historical references on GM Regulation

• Asilomar Conference in February 1975 set in motion the first scientific need for evaluation of genetically modified organisms

• Convention on Biological Diversity– Articles 8(g) of the Convention obligate contracting

parties to develop national biosafety systems

– Article 19(3) …. set out appropriate procedures in the field of safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms resulting from biotechnology that may have adverse effect on conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity”.

Contracting Parties Convention on Biological Diversity

Historical references on GM Regulation …

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

– The Protocol is about …contributing to ensuring an adequate level of protection in the safe transfer, handling and use of LMOs resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account human health …

Contracting Parties to Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

Historical references on GM Regulation …

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety• Article 2 (1) … Each Party shall take necessary and

appropriate legal, administrative and other measures to implement its obligations…

• Developing functional National Biosafety Frameworks comprising of:

1. Policy framework on biotechnology

2. Legislation on biosafety

3. Administrative system for handling applications and issuance of permits

4. Mechanism for public participation in biosafety decision making process

Status of NBFs in SSA

four categories countries:

1. countries with fully-functional NBFs,

2. countries with interim NBFs

3. countries whose NBF is ‘work-in-progress’

4. countries with little progress on NBFs.

Status of GM regulations

Fully functional National Bio-safety Frameworks

Interim National Bio-safety Frameworks

Work in progress

No significant progress

Concluding Remarks

• Africa is vast! Over 50 nation states with varying national priorities making the countries to proceed at different speeds

• Having signed and ratified the CBD, a number of countries have already put their acts together

• However developing NBFs in quite a number of African countries remains “ work-in-progress”

Concluding Remarks …

• Exemplary cases worthy of note:• Burkina Faso• Kenya

• It is NOT enough to sign international conventions or even enact biosafety laws. This is only a necessary first step

• Just as important is carrying the process through regulations and guidelines, administrative streamlining etc

FONDATION AFRICAINE POUR LES TECHNOLOGIES AGRICOLES

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention