The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has lined up a series of public awareness activities across the country starting July as it moves to address the issues of misinformation and disinformation on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the Country.
Speaking at Isiolo School for the Deaf in Isiolo County, during a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity, NBA Director of Legal Services Mr. Moses Sande said the move will also ensure that Kenyans fully understand the mandate of the Authority.
“We started our public awareness campaign in Kakamega County last month and which was a huge success. We have set aside more resources that will see us traverse the whole Country to tell Kenyans about GMOs,” said Mr. Sande.
He went on: “We are aware of misinformation and disinformation about GMOs which is being perpetuated by people who have less understanding on the GMOs and emerging modern biotechnologies.”
Mr. Sande maintained that the Authority has legal framework and qualified personnel to assess the safety of GMOs in the Country.
“Our mandate as an Authority is to ensure that GMOs out there are safe be they’re at research level or being handled by traders. The products must be approved by NBA,” added Mr. Sande.
He said that in Africa several countries have already embraced GMOs such as Nigeria Southy Africa, Malawi, Ethiopia among others adding that the GMOs products have been in the market for the last 30 years.
“We have not seen any effects of GMOs for the last 30 years that they have been in the market around the globe and therefore, Kenyans should not be worried at all,” emphasized Mr. Sande.
The Kakamega awareness creation forum was hosted by the Authority in collaboration with the County Government of Kakamega under the theme: “Enhancing Public Awareness and Regulation of GMOs in Kenya”
The forum provided a valuable opportunity for the National and County Governments, scientists, regulators, farmers, traders, and the public to engage openly on matters of biotechnology, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and biosafety regulation in Kenya.
The Authority is a state corporation mandated under the Biosafety Act, CAP 320, to exercise general supervision and control over the transfer, handling and use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) with a view to ensuring the safety of human and animal health and provision of adequate protection of the environment.
Kenya signed Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2000 and ratified it in 2003 with National Biosafety Authority as the national focus point.
This is an international agreement which aims to ensure the regulation of GMOs to ensure their safety to humans, animals and environment.
The protocol is part of the global convention on biological diversity (CBD) and provides a framework for the utilisation of biotechnology while also recognising the potential risks that may be posed by the new technologies.
