Biotech Updates

Ethiopian Parliament Okays Biosafety Law

July 17, 2009

The Ethiopian Parliament has approved a new biosafety bill, according to a report by the Ethiopian Review. The legislation, drafted by the Federal Environmental Protection Authority (FEPA), "contains various regulations aimed at protecting human and animal health, and biological diversity." Teweldeberhan Gebregziabhere, FEPA head, said that the bill is "based on the international biosafety law, with local characteristics."

In accordance with the new legislation, FEPA will now establish a National Biosafety Clearing House. The new legislation says that any transit, import and production of genetically modified organisms should be done only with a written consent granted by FEPA.

The original article is available at http://www.ethiopianreview.com/articles/13826