DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE

Genetically Modified Organisms Act, 1997 (Act No. 15 of 1997)

By

Shadrack R. Moephuli (Dr.)

Registrar: GMO Act

14 April 2003

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE

Challenges Facing South Africa

16 % Arable landLarge rural sector, farming population, limited

success of the green revolution Increasing population = incr. Demand for food,

reduced per capita natural resourcesUrban growth = food security needs increaseDecline fish production Increasing damage to ecological foundations

(water, bio-diversity, climate and sea level)

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE

Control Measures on GMO’s

GMO Act NEMA Biodiversity Bill Cartagena Protocol on Biodiversity National Biotechnology Strategy Regulations on Labelling International Undertaking on Genetic Resources Convention for Biological Diversity

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE

The Aims of the Act

To provide for measures to promote the responsible development, production, use and application of genetically modified organisms (including importation, production, release and distribution) shall be carried out in such a way as to limit possible harmful consequences to the environment; to give attention to the prevention of accidents and effective management of waste etc…

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE

Bio-Safety Structures

Executive CouncilRegistrarAdvisory Committee InspectorsAppealsRegulations

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE

Executive Council

DoA: Chair – Ms. N. NduliDoH: Deputy Chair – Dr. v. de VenterDEAT: Member – Dr. G. T. WillemseDACST: Member – Dr. J. MatjilaDTI: Member – Mr. J. v. d. MerweDoL: Member – Mr. L. Motshelanoka

DoA: Registrar’s Office

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE

Powers and Duties of the EC

Approve, the use of or release of GMO’s and authorise the registrar to issue a permit accordingly

Advise the Minister on :• Prohibitions• Authorisation and exercise of control of imports• Development, production, use, application, release

and distribution of GMO’s• Control measures taken in the event of an accident• Any other matter with regard to GMO’s• Appointment of members of the AC

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE

Advisory Committee

Act as national advisory body on GMO’s Advise, on request or of its own accord, the Minister, EC,

Other Ministries and appropriate bodies on matters concerning GMO’s:

• Introduction, proposals for activities, contained use, importation and exportation of GMO’s

• Invite written comments from experts Knowledgeable persons in those fields of science

applicable to the development and release of genetically modified organisms

Two persons shall have knowledge of ecological matters and genetically modified organisms

Chairperson: Prof. Mbudzeni Sibara

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE

CONCERNS THAT ARE EXAMINED

Farmers• Access• Sustainability• Benefit sharing

Human Health• Multi-drug resistance• Allergenicity

Environment• Weeds• Biodiversity

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE

Approach/Response

Risk Assessments• Science based• Case by case approach• research

Risk Management• Conditional permits• Inspections• Monitoring and evaluation

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE

Process of Regulation

Information used by the nationalGMO decision making body

Legislation:

GMO Act (15, 1997)

GMOExecutiveCouncil

Applicant’srisk

assessment

Publicinput

Independentscientific safety

assessment

Socio-economicimpact & national

needs

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE

CONCLUSION

To satisfy the demand, requires higher yields per unit of land, water, energy and time. We need to determine how best to utilize modern biotechnology in raising agricultural productivity without adversely affecting our bio-diversity, human health and economic stability.

However, we need to recognize that powerful new technologies require new policy choices. The National Biotechnology Strategy could provide the appropriate platform for such activity.