Busia County Commissioner calls for increased GMO awareness, hails NBO for positive steps

Busia County Commissioner Chaunga Mwachaunga has lauded the National Biosafety Authority 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 Mr. Nehemiah Ngetich, in his office in Busia, Mr. Mwachaunga however, observed that more public awareness on GMOs need to be done.

“We look forward in working together along the border town to ensure that we do not have unapproved GMOs in the country,” said the County Commissioner.

The Authority’s acting chief executive officer on his part appreciated the County Commissioner for supporting the Authority’s activities.

To achieve this, the Authority has operationalize three new offices  which are; One Stop Border post (OSBP) at  Malaba ,Lunga Lunga and  Taita Taveta, joining the already existing  Mombasa,Busia and Namanga.

“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 Mr. Ngetich.

The Authority has put in place a robust legal and institutional framework to regulate GMOs and their derived product.

It is mandated to exercise general supervision and control over the transfer, handling and use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) with a view of ensuring safety of human and animal health and provision of 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 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 role to create public awareness to educate Kenyans on GMO foods, including regulatory safeguards, and the importance of informed consumer choice.