The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has announced that it will crack the whip on institutions dealing with research on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and their derived products that are yet to register after the lapse of three-month notice.
The Authority in October last year, issued a notice to institutions dealing with research on GMOs to regularise their approval with the Authority in which no penalty was to accrue during the period.
In a press statement, Josephat Muchiri, Acting Director Biosafety Research and Compliance at the Authority cautioned that after the deadline, anyone who will be found to be dealing with GMOs without a permit from NBA will be dealt with legally as per the Biosafety Act. "We will be sending our Officers later this year to visit the institutions and do physical verification," added Muchiri.
Section 18(1) of the Biosafety Act 2009 prohibits any person from conducting any activity involving GMOs without the written approval of the Authority.
