South Africa Marketing and Trade Policies for GM Products

“Biosafety at the Crossroads: An Analysis of South Africa’s Marketing and Trade Policies for Genetically Modified Products”, a discussion paper published by the International Food Policy Research Institute, forwards suggestions on how South Africa “can better adapt to global changes, manage risks rigorously but efficiently, and take advantage of safe new technologies”.

Authors Guillaume P. Gruère and Debdatta Sengupta proposes broad recommendations, among them:

• Maintain commodity clearance as a separate option for GM commodity imports, based on rigorous scientific assessment; invest in transport and infrastructure to reduce the price gap between domestic and international maize prices; and address potential domestic competition issues on maize.
• Diminish the weight of private export issues in the Executive Council decision making process, except when justified by insider and outsider expertise. Let the market decide what technology is viable for the developer.
• Support the setting up of a voluntary labeling rule that clearly defines what can be labeled GM or non-GM and encourage awareness programs and increased consumer information.
• Support the creation of a transparent monitoring system to provide timely information and perspective on regulatory and market changes regarding GM production and trade in other countries.

An abstract of the full paper can be downloaded at http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/dp/ifpridp00796.asp