THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requesting a public review of draft laws aimed at protecting Guyana from the threats to food safety, animal life, plant life and health posed by Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and invasive alien species.
The EPA disclosed that draft National Biosafety/Biotechnology and Biosecurity legislation has been completed and the agency will be hosting a series of public consultations on the document to facilitate public review and discussion pending its finalisation.
The public consultations are to be held within the ten administrative regions from September 24, 2014 to October 15, 2014, the EPA disclosed
A reliable source disclosed yesterday that concerns worldwide about the potential risks from the use of modern biotechnology had led to the formulation of biosafety regulations.
“Biotechnology has made significant strides towards the development of, for example, better health care, enhanced food security through sustainable agricultural practices, improved supplies of potable water, more efficient industrial development processes for transforming raw materials, support for sustainable methods of aforestation and reforestation, and detoxification of hazardous wastes,” the source disclosed.
But there are also serious concerns about elements of biotechnology including the genetic engineering of living modified organisms intended for direct use as food or feed or for processing (LMOs-FFP).
The concerns range from ethical considerations to potential risks to human health and the environment, particularly given the relatively small amount of experience with the application of biotechnology to date, and the fact that any adverse effects may only be manifested over the long term, the source disclosed.
Biosafety or biological safety refers to efforts to reduce and eliminate the potential risk resulting from biotechnology and its products.
Guyana became a party to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) on August 29, 1994, subsequently signing on to the supplemental agreement the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) which entered into force on September 11, 2003.
The areas of emphasis of the biosafety legislation are agricultural biotechnology, environmental biotechnology, food (processing) biotechnology, health biotechnology and industrial biotechnology.
The primary objective is that through the development of the National Biosafety/Biotechnology and Biosecurity Legislation, appropriate measures will be taken to minimise any potential risk.
The biosafety legislation also sets a platform for the wise implementation of biotechnology initiatives for the safe and sustainable use of Guyana’s enormous per capita biodiversity wealth.
BIOSECURITY LEGISLATION
The biosecurity legislation will focus on pre-border, border and post-border activities designed to keep out new pests, to maintain and monitor framework for pest management agencies for industry and individuals to take collective action against pests as well as a framework for managing intentional introduction of new organisms including GMO’s.
The ultimate aim is socio-economic enhancement and poverty alleviation without jeopardising the health and welfare of citizens, the source said.
(By Clifford Stanley)