Biotech Updates

Tanzania Finalizes Biotech Regulations

March 25, 2015

The government of Tanzania has finalized preparations of environment regulations for allowing biotechnology research in the country, according to Prof. Makame Mbarawa, Minister for Science and Technology. He mentioned this during a tour by the Parliamentary Committee at the Commission for Science and Technology (Costech) last week.

Earlier this year, President Jakaya Kikwete called the attention of the scientists in the country to conduct biotech research to enable the government to act accordingly. However, Tanzanian researchers are hindered in doing so due to a prohibitive clause in the 2009 Biosafety Regulations, which holds everyone involved liable to disciplinary sanction in case something goes wrong in the development and application of agri-biotechnology.

The Minister also emphasized that Tanzania is going to focus more on research, with the help of the public and private sectors.

More details are available at All Africa. Contact Margaret Karembu at mkarembu@isaaa.org to know more about biotechnology in Africa.