National Biosafety Authority to work together with Kenya Ports Authority

National Biosafety Authority and Kenya Ports Authority on Monday agreed to work together in serving Kenyans at the entry point.

NBA Board of Directors Chairperson Prof Jenesio Kinyamario led a team of members of the Board and management in a courtesy call to Kenya Ports Authority, where they met with General Manager Operations Dr. Sudi Mwasonango.

Prof Kinyamario underscored the importance of the two institutions working together noting that it is for the benefit of Kenyans and other traders in the region.

“We have an office in Mombasa and which we have strengthened in order to serve the growing population of business people in the region,” said Prof Kinyamario.

Dr Mwasonango on his part lauded the efforts by National Biosafety Authority in undertaking its functions and mandate saying it will go along way in ensuring that GMOs and their derived products that enter the market are up to the required standards.

“We will continue to work with your team that is stationed here at the Port since  as government agencies were have one goal of serving our various stakeholders,” added the General manager.

The  Authority recently opened three new offices to serve dealers in genetically modified organisms and their derived products.

The new offices are One Stop Border post (OSBP) at  Malaba in Busia County , Lunga Lunga in Kwale County  and Taita Taveta, in Taita Taveta County.

Acting Chief executive officer Mr. Nehemiah Ngetich  said the move will ensure that no GMOs and their derived products enter the Country without the approval of the Authority.

In November last year ,  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.

He disclosed that the Country has about 24 entry points and therefore need for more resources to hire atleast 48 officers to  man the borders.

The Authority has the mandate to facilitate  approvals of safe biotech crops, animal breeds that are resistant to pests and diseases leading  to increased food production.

 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 and has assured  Kenyans in general of the safety of the GMOs and their derived products in the Country.

It has legal, regulatory and institutional framework which provides for streamlined processes for persons dealing in GMOs and their derived products in the Country.