National Stakeholders Validation Workshop on the Revised Biosafety Regulations in Burkina Faso

The National Biosafety (ANB) organized on 14 to 16 November 2011 a national workshop to deliberate on the revised Biosafety Law draft bill. The workshop came at a time where various stakeholders were calling upon the Biosafety Authority to reconsider sending the revised law to be tabled in parliament, stating that some of the new regulations were holding various stringent clauses.

In his opening remarks, the Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation, Professor Gnissa Konate recognized the importance of modern biotechnology in increasing agricultural production, achieving food security and in reducing the import and use of pesticides. He urged participants to make contributions that would ensure the safety for the environment, humans and animals without jeopardizing the benefits to be gained from modern biotechnology. He added that it is important that users and consumers be provided with accurate information and be allowed to choose freely.

 "The validation workshop of the draft bill is an important step which ensure wide consultation at national level' said Prof. Chantal Zoungrana, the director of ANB.

The work was carried out in groups and they were marked by heated debates. Participants were finally able to reach an agreement and made meaningful contribution to the document. The director of ANB concluded the workshop saying "The discussions were long, sometimes stormy but we still found a consensus that we recorded in this document, and I think our contributions address concerns from all stakeholders"

For more information please contact the author of the article Mr. Cyr Payim Ouédraogo, Journalist at l'Observateur Paalga on cyrpayim@hotmail.com