The Ethiopian Biosafety Regime on GMOS and its Implementation in Light of Cartagena Protocol: Focus on Cotton and Maize GMOS
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2021-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa
Abstract
The development of modern biotechnology raise environmental and health related
risks. In protecting both the environment and human health states came up with
international and national biosafety framework. This study has made a
comprehensive assessment on biosafety framework of Ethiopia and its sufficiency in
implementing the CPB. The study aimed at assessing whether proper procedures are
followed in the approval of Bt Cotton and GM Maize and whether the public
awareness, participation, BCH, and risk assessment issues are addressed under the
domestic law and being implemented in Ethiopia, among others. The researcher
beyond consulting laws and other secondary sources conducted an interview with key
informants from different regulatory agencies. Although the Ethiopian biosafety
framework is in line with the CPB, it doesn’t sufficiently assure proper
implementation of the latter. The study has identified legal and implementation gaps
concerning biosafety i.e. limited public awareness and participation, weak border
control attributed to lack of skilled man power and laboratories, and weak
collaboration between the EFCCC and the ECC, and failure to address liability and
redress issues due to government’s reluctance to adopt a sui generis law. Concerning
the practice there were flows in the implementation of AIA, public participation, risk
assessment, and BCH in the approval procedures of Bt Cotton and GM maize. Basedon its findings, the study recommends straightening the biosafety legal and
institutional framework and implementing the CPB and domestic laws properly in the
Description
Keywords
Biotechnology, Biosafety, EFCCC, Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety