MPs give thumbs up to signing GMO protocol

NAMIBIA has committed itself to guarding against the unwise use of Genetically Modified Organisms and related products by ratifying the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

While many advances in modern biotechnology have proved beneficial to human health and food security, there are increasing concerns that this new technology may also be harmful to humans and the environment. Modern biotechnology has contributed to the advancement of agricultural production and the pharmaceutical industry through the transfer of genetic properties of species to another.It is the transfer of genetic material between unrelated species which has raised concerns that it may change the balance of nature and ecological processes.An international regulatory system – the Cartegena Protocol – has been established to allow governments to avoid such problems while at the same time exploiting the benefits of this innovative technology.By ratifying the protocol, Namibia will neither endorse the new technology, nor prohibit it.The provisions of the protocol will enable Government to benefit from international co-operation on such issues.Among important provisions of special relevance to Namibia is one that will require the prior approval of Government for the import of genetically modified commodities for domestic use.Government’s consent will have to be communicated to the world to make it clear to exporters which products can be exported to a particular country.The protocol also requires that GMOs, such as seeds intended for direct introduction into the environment, must be accompanied by documents from the exporter which explicitly state that a shipment contains GMOs.”The issue of regulation has become extremely urgent in Namibia because of the changes in agricultural production towards genetically modified crops in countries from which Namibia have thus far been importing large volumes of maize and other foods,” said Deputy Environment Minister Peter Ilonga when he requested the support of the National Assembly last week to ratify the protocol.The House yesterday gave its approval.A draft bill on biosafety is in the offing to match domestic legislation and the international instruments on this subject.The Cartegena Protocol came into force in September 2003.Almost 90 countries – among them 20 African countries – have acceded to it.Modern biotechnology has contributed to the advancement of agricultural production and the pharmaceutical industry through the transfer of genetic properties of species to another.It is the transfer of genetic material between unrelated species which has raised concerns that it may change the balance of nature and ecological processes.An international regulatory system – the Cartegena Protocol – has been established to allow governments to avoid such problems while at the same time exploiting the benefits of this innovative technology.By ratifying the protocol, Namibia will neither endorse the new technology, nor prohibit it.The provisions of the protocol will enable Government to benefit from international co-operation on such issues.Among important provisions of special relevance to Namibia is one that will require the prior approval of Government for the import of genetically modified commodities for domestic use.Government’s consent will have to be communicated to the world to make it clear to exporters which products can be exported to a particular country.The protocol also requires that GMOs, such as seeds intended for direct introduction into the environment, must be accompanied by documents from the exporter which explicitly state that a shipment contains GMOs.”The issue of regulation has become extremely urgent in Namibia because of the changes in agricultural production towards genetically modified crops in countries from which Namibia have thus far been importing large volumes of maize and other foods,” said Deputy Environment Minister Peter Ilonga when he requested the support of the National Assembly last week to ratify the protocol.The House yesterday gave its approval.A draft bill on biosafety is in the offing to match domestic legislation and the international instruments on this subject.The Cartegena Protocol came into force in September 2003.Almost 90 countries – among them 20 African countries – have acceded to it.