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General News on Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Source: Myjoyonline.com
2019-01-22
Some products of genetically modified organisms
The National Biosafety Authority (ANB) dispels fears of Parliament, which is worried about the illegal import of genetically modified products.
A report from Parliament's Environment, Science and Technology Committee requesting the approval of the 2019 budget of the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, said members Are worried about the introduction of genetically modified products in the country without the required approval of the National Biosafety Authority. to say is illegal.
The committee instructed the regulator, the National Biosafety Authority (ANB), to take steps to curb the trend by speeding up the process of establishing a biosafety lab.
"The illegal importation of genetically modified foods is gradually becoming a source of concern," said Robert Kwasi Amoah, deputy chairman of the committee, during the debate in Parliament on the report that was finally approved .
"The biosecurity authority is therefore creating a laboratory to test the food coming into the country. This is to ensure that the laws on genetically modified foods are not violated. The committee congratulates the authority for the initiative and invites it to complete the laboratory within a year, "added Amoah.
In 2011, Parliament pbaded the National Biosafety Act to allow the production and marketing of GMOs in the country. The law requires any person or organization seeking to produce or import GMOs and GMO-based products to first request the approval of the NBA.
Until now, Eric Okoree, CEO of the Authority, said: "Officially, the NBA has not received a request for introduction of GMOs into the market".
Reality on earth
But food products labeled as containing GMO ingredients, including corn flakes from South Africa and elsewhere, have been found in Ghana's major supermarkets, which has sparked parliamentarians' red flags.
In 2013, Kwame Dei Asamoah-Otchere, then head of the biosafety unit of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) of Ghana, confirmed that it was likely that some genetically modified products entered the country. without authorization.
"Given the porous nature of our borders, coupled with the ignorance of business people, it is possible that some genetically modified foods or genetically modified ingredients in foods have entered Ghana in non-commercial quantities. Asamoah-Otchere told Joy News.
Eric Okoreetells CEO of the National Biosafety Authority (NBA), has nothing to fear.
"I will not say that we are at risk because the Food and Drugs Authority has been on the ground forever to regulate food. And they checked the security of it. So, without the lab, the FDA has looked at the safety of genetically modified foods in the country, "he said.
Member of Parliament adopts dissenting position
Yaw Frimpong Addo, member of the Parliamentary Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa, commented on the concerns of parliamentarians, saying that there was nothing for his colleagues fear for products containing GMOs.
"Seriously, there is nothing to fear from technology. They should not worry at all. To date, if a report indicates that, through the consumption of GMOs, about 5,000 people died in the world, I will support the opposition. But no, he says.
"If you're talking about illegal GMO products and you have the proof, ask the Food and Drugs Authority, go to the stores, pick up those items, do tests and see if they're dangerous foods that can cause an epidemic in the country. The budget report, its content, its problematic, "added the legislator.
Addo, who is also chairman of the government's parliamentary insurance commission, blames fears over a lack of understanding of exactly what GMOs are.
"It sounds like everybody's afraid of technology and that's because we have not done enough education on technology. Many of them talk about prospects that you can clearly see that they do not understand, "he said.
Other reactions
Ghana is about to market its first crop of locally produced GMOs during the year. Field trials to produce local varieties of GMO cowpea with inherent resistance to pests have been completed.
Trials are also underway on genetically modified rice that uses less fertilizer, tolerates salt, is drought resistant and can use water more efficiently.
Richard Ameyaw Ampadu, a scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), believes that it is necessary for Ghana to rapidly market these crops so that people are not tempted to legally or illegally import such crops. improved varieties.
"I'm happy that these problems arise, because the longer we wait, the more people are tempted to incorporate GMOs. Because products are constantly evolving, "he said.
"In Nigeria, they approved GM cotton. Soon they will approve cowpeas. And as they free, people can simply lobby. We need to ensure that these varieties are produced locally as soon as possible, so that no one will plant weeds in our wheat, "added Dr. Ameyaw.
It ensures that GMO varieties developed in the country pbad all the risk badessment tests necessary to ensure safety. "We can badure parliament that what we are developing in this country is extremely monitored and so strict that we can be sure that it is secure. We can have it without fear, "said Dr. Ameyaw.
In the meantime, the National Biosafety Authority announced that it was working on the creation of a biosafety laboratory to test imported foods.
"We're almost there, we've set up the lab, and we're looking for equipment that will be ready soon, so this year in June we'll have commissioning," said Eric Okoree, CEO of the NBA.
This, says the authority, will ensure that only GMO products with the required approvals will be allowed as is the case in other countries.
By the end of 2017, Nigeria ordered the return of about 90 tons of genetically modified corn imported from Argentina, not because they were bad, but because they were not used. 39; had not been approved in accordance with local biosecurity law prior to importation.
"The National Biosafety Management Agency (AMNB) had to intervene to prevent the release of the lot of corn in the country, the importer has not obtained a permit to import GM seeds from the NBMA," he said. said the director, Rufus Egbegba. -General of the NBMA, leaked at a press briefing.
Mr Ameyaw of the CSIR wants the Ghanaian authorities to be equally vigilant and ensure that the country's laws on GMOs are not violated.
"People at the border should be vigilant, the people who build the lab should speed up the process. And we must all open our eyes, "he said.
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