As part of the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on biotechnology risks, a new project has just been launched to help three southern African countries strengthen their national biosafety frameworks. The SINBF project launched in Kinshasa this Wednesday, November 1, will be implemented in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and Namibia.*
“ This launch workshop aims to educate the stakeholders in the Project and the Cartagena Protocol on biotechnology risks, present the SINBF project to them, as well as collect the opinions, considerations and perceptions of the stakeholders in order to constitute the steering committee and establish the project roadmap ,” declared Nicaise Kingunia Innet, biodiversity focal point at the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development.
The Democratic Republic of Congo does not currently have any regulations to govern the LMO (living modified organisms) sector. However, some legal texts consulted by experts leave a window for the regulation of this sector which affects national sovereignty.
“The analysis allowed us to recall that the issue linked to GMOs ( genetically modified organisms) is a controversial issue. The first trend is resistant to GMOs, while the second is pro-GMO, to the extent that it aims to define standards to prevent biotechnological risks on human, animal and plant health,” indicated Félix Lilakako, legal expert . of the environment.
According to this expert, the analysis of the Congolese legal framework revealed that from the constitution to the various sectoral laws, there are legal provisions which allude to biosecurity. However, it is very important to provide this sector with a specific law on LMOs.
“ The government must adopt a national policy which defines the orientations and vision on Biosecurity. It is unacceptable that today, a country does not have standards in this area. It is possible to have the standards and the orders while waiting for the adoption of this law ,” added Mr. Lilakako.
About ten years ago, a national biosecurity framework was produced in the DRC. The biosecurity bill was not deemed a priority by lawmakers for debate and adoption. Taking into account the evolution of techniques and new themes in this area as well as the entry into force of the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Additional Protocol on liability and compensation for damage that LMOs may cause, the government of the DRC wants update and finalize its bill on functional biosecurity.
“ In 2007, we produced a national biosecurity framework to manage this area. But since then, it has never been implemented due to lack of resources.
As part of this project, we benefited from financial support from the GEF to help us achieve this objective ,” indicated the biosecurity focal point, Guy Mboma. “ Our major sub-major is to have biosecurity regulations. The main objective of this project is to have a law that will be discussed and adopted in parliament .”
During this project, collaboration bridges will be established between the different sectoral ministries in order to produce a law that will take care of the needs of all.
The participants also agreed to increase communication and awareness among all segments of the Congolese population on the issue of GMOs. It should be noted that a living modified organism is any living organism possessing a combination of novel genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology.
Alfredo Prince NTUMBA
