Mozambique intends to revise its regulations on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in order to adapt this legislation to the country's current needs.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Venancio Massingue, announced this intention on Wednesday at the opening of a seminar of reflection on bio-security guidelines for the handling and risk management of GMOs in Mozambique.
Mozambique ratified the Cartagena Protocol on Bio-safety in 2001, and in 2007 the government approved a set of regulations on bio-safety dealing specifically with the management of GMOs.
"In these regulations we looked at genetically modified products in transit and destined for use in the country", said Massingue. Based on these rules, some GMOs were forbidden from entering or passing through Mozambique.
The revision of the regulations, said the Minister, seeks to legislate for the genetic crossing of seeds in order to improve the productivity of crops, and to ensure that the tests for such hybrids are carried out under conditions of maximum security.
Massingue said that the government recognises the important role of science and of biotechnical applications in development.
"That is why we approved, in June 2006, the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Mozambique", he added. "This is the document that defines the main strategic areas to which the country should dedicate its attention in the coming years, namely agriculture, health, marine sciences, natural resources, among others".
The document pointed to bio-technology as a cross-cutting area, affecting various disciplines. The government, Massingue said, "recognises the important gains to be made from exploiting this scientific tool".
The government had thus been "undertaking initiatives seeking to establish the environment and infrastructures needed so that bio-technology can become a reality in our country".
As part of these efforts, the government had set up, in 2007, an Inter-Institutional Group on Bio-Safety (GIIBS), to provide the authorities with analyses and advice on matters of bio-safety.
Massingue said that this group is charged with carrying out scientific research, ensuring exchange of information on bio-safety, and creating a public awareness on issues of bio-technology and bio-safety.
The three day seminar is organised by the GIIBS in partnership with the African Bio-Safety Network of Expertise (ABNE). The latter body was set by the African Union/NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development) Office of Science and Technology, and its overall goal is to build functional bio-safety systems in Africa, enabling regulators to take informed decisions about bio-technology products,
Addressing the seminar, ABNE Director Diran Makinde praised the efforts made by Mozambique in the area of bio-safety which he regarded as exemplary.
