Busia: Busia County Commissioner Chaunga Mwachaunga has lauded the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) for creating public awareness on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in the county. Speaking during a meeting with the Authority’s management led by acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Nehemiah Ngetich in his office in Busia, Mwachaunga, however, observed that more public awareness on GMOs needed to be done. ‘We look forward to working together along the border town to ensure that we do not have unapproved GMOs in the country,’ said the County Commissioner.
According to Kenya News Agency, the NBA Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) appreciated the County Commissioner for supporting the Authority’s activities. To achieve this, the Authority has operationalised three new offices: One Stop Border Post (OSBP) at Malaba, Lunga Lunga and Taita Taveta. ‘The Authority is also determined to ensure that no GMOs and their derived products enter the country without the approval of the Authority, as the country has 24 entry points,’ said Ngetich.
The Authority has put in place a robust legal and institutional framework to regulate GMOs and their derived products. It is mandated to exercise general supervision and control over the transfer, handling and use of GMOs with a view to ensuring the safety of human and animal health and the provision of an adequate level of protection of the environment.
Kenya is a member of the international community and is a signatory to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which is a multilateral environmental agreement whose objective is to ensure an adequate level of protection in the safe transfer, handling and use of GMOs and their derived products. At the national level, Kenya approved the National Biotechnology Development Policy in 2006, enacted the Biosafety Act in 2009 and has so far published four Biosafety Regulations, namely, the Biosafety (Contained Use) Regulations, 2011; the Biosafety (Environmental Release) Regulations, 2011; the Biosafety (Import, Export, and Transit) Regulations, 2011; and the Biosafety (Labelling) Regulations, 2012.
The Authority is also tasked with the role of creating public awareness to educate Kenyans on GMO foods, including regulatory safeguards and the importance of informed consumer choice.