National Biosafety Authority (NBA) is a state corporation established under the Biosafety Act, No.2 of 2009, to exercise general supervision and control over the transfer, handling and use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) with a view to ensuring safety of human, animal health and provision of adequate protection of the environment.

The authority is also the national focal for the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The protocol provides for commitment of the international community to ensure the safe handling, transportation and use of living-modified organisms (LMOs).

LMOs may have negative effects on biological diversity, while also taking into account health risks. It became a legislation on January 29, 2000, and went into force on September 11, 2003. The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity approved the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety as a supplement to the Convention in 2000.

The authority is mandated among others to promote awareness and education among the general public in matters relating to biosafety, a function that it has taken seriously through various activities across the country.

This is also to let Kenyans know that the authority has an obligation to undertake public participation and that is the reason the information on the Bt maize was placed in two widely circulated newspapers, the weekly Kenya Gazette and NBA’s website. This is the initial public consultation to inform the authority in the biosafety approval request.

Besides the publication in the print media, the authority is concurrently engaging on other channels of communication and public awareness including social media platforms. Plans are also underway to engage the public directly through open fora or barazas in representative of areas where the Bt maize will be grown after variety release and commercialisation.

The initiatives are meant to educate the public on GMOs, safety assessment procedures and allow interactive sessions with members of the public. It’s further underscored that before the commercialization of the Bt maize, other regulatory approvals including environmental impact assessment (EIA) and national performance trials will be required and the public will further be engaged at those stages.

The authority affirms to Kenyans it shall continue to discharge its mandate of ensuring safety of human, animal health and protection of the environment in accordance with the Biosafety Act.

• A Tell report / by Nehemia Ngetich, Acting Chief Executive Officer.National Biosafety Authority