Government Lifts Ban on Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) Crops
The government of Kenya has lift ban on GMO food crops following recommendation of a task force that was put in place to review matters relating to GMOs and food safety.
In a meeting Chaired by President William Ruto in State House Nairobi on Monday, October 3, the cabinet rescinded the decision that prohibited the cultivation of GMOs based on technical reports on the adoption of biotechnology.
The lifting of the ban, as noted in a press statement from the Executive Office of the President, happened during a meeting between the President and the Cabinet to deliberate on the ongoing drought in 23 arid and semi-arid lands, and to review the ongoing humanitarian support and provision of relief food in those areas.
“In accordance with the recommendation of the Task Force to Review Matters Relating to Genetically Modified Foods and Food Safety, and in fidelity with the guidelines of the National Biosafety Authority on all applicable international treaties, including the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB), Cabinet vacated its earlier decision of November 8, 2012, prohibiting the open cultivation of genetically modified crops and the importation of food crops and animal feeds produced through biotechnology innovations; effectively lifting the ban on genetically modified crops. By dint of the executive action open cultivation and importation of white (GMO) maize is now authorised,” read the statement in part.
“As part of the medium to long term responses to the ongoing drought, and as a progressive step towards significantly redefining agriculture in Kenya by adopting crops that are resistant to pests and disease, Cabinet also considered various expert and technical reports on adoption of biotechnology; including reports of the Kenya’s National Biosafety Authority (NBA), World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United States of America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA),”added the statement.
