African Nations Build Foundations for GM Technology
October 22, 2010| |
After more than nine years, the Common Market for Eastern and South Africa (COMESA) has finally drafted a policy on GM technology and submitted it for national consultation. COMESA, a trade bloc, develops science-based proposals aiming to advance research and trade in GM crops. The policy proposal notes that a country intending to grow a GM crop should inform COMESA which will conduct a science-based risk assessment. Once the body confirms the safety of the GM crop, COMESA will then issue a blanket approval for the crop to be grown commercially in all COMESA countries. The national governments will then decide if they would proceed with the planting or not.
Under the COMESA plan, the African nations are also discussing to form a biosafety map for the development of national regulations on GMOs, as well as communication schemes in disseminating information about GMOs.
Read the original article at http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v467/n7316/full/467633b.html.
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