By Christine Ochogo | christawine@yahoo.com
The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) will open three regional offices a month after lifting the ban on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their derived products.
The new offices will be at Malaba in Busia County, Lunga Lunga in Kwale County and Taita Taveta (Holili) in Taita Taveta County.
Acting Chief executive officer Mr. Nehemiah Ngetich told a session with students from National Defence College that the move is to ensure that no GMOs and their derived products enter the Country without the approval of the Authority.
Last month the High Court dismissed a case against lift of a ban on GMOs and their derived products re-affirming the Cabinet decision that lifted the ban on GMOs of 3rd October 2022 that Kenya has a robust legal and institutional framework to regulate GMOs.
Currently the Authority has three regional offices at major entry points; Mombasa, Busia and Namanga.
“We are going to engage apparatus in dealing with importers and dealers of GMOs and their derived product who violate the law,” said Mr Ngetich.
He disclosed that the Country has about 24 entry points and therefore need for more resources to hire at least 48 officers to man the borders.
The delegation from National Defence College was led by Major-General Y.S Abdi who underscored the role of the Authority in creating awareness about genetically modified organisms.
The students who are from various African countries are training at the institution.
On status of environmental release approvals, Mr. Ngetich said Bt cotton was commercialized in 2020 and approximately 10,000 acres are under cultivation in Eastern, Central, Western and Nyanza Regions.
“Food security is a national security issue because it is a primary responsibility of the government to protect its citizens from all threats, including food insecurity.The Authority role is on facilitating approvals of safe biotech crops, animal breeds that are resistant to pests and diseases lead to increased food production,” said Mr. Ngetich.
He disclosed that the Authority is now seeking review of the Biosafety Act to cover emerging technologies related to GMOs such as genome editing, gene-drives technologies, synthetic biology, biosecurity and pharmaceuticals.
The Authority has since assured Kenyans in general of the safety of the GMOs and their derived products in the Country.
The Authority has already approved the commercialisation of Bt Cotton, which has been in cultivation since 2020 and no adverse effects have been noted or reported through, the Authority’s monitoring and surveillance system.
“Other crops such as Bt maize and virus resistant cassava are at advance stages of variety testing towards their commercialization,” added the acting chief executive officer.
He said Kenyan has a well-established legal, regulatory and institutional framework which provides for streamlined processes for persons dealing in GMOs and their derived products in the Country.
