The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has now opened three new offices to serve dealers in genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their derived products.

The new offices are One Stop Border Post (OSBP) at  Malaba in Busia County, Lunga Lunga in Kwale County and Taita Taveta, in Taita Taveta County.

Acting chief executive officer Nehemiah Ngetich disclosed that already officers have been posted to the stations in order to serve Kenyans. “Yes, the three offices are now operational. We now have six offices that also include, Mombasa, Busia and Namanga,” said Ngetich adding that the move will ensure that no GMOs and their derived products enter the Country without the approval of the Authority.

Last month High Court dismissed a case against the lift of a ban on GMOs and their derived products reaffirming the Cabinet decision that lifted the ban on GMOs on October 3, 2022, that Kenya has a robust legal and institutional framework to regulate GMOs.

Entry points

He disclosed that the country has about 24 entry points and therefore needs more resources to hire at least 48 officers to man the borders.

The Authority has the mandate to facilitate approvals of safe biotech crops and animal breeds that are resistant to pests and diseases leading to increased food production.

He disclosed that the authority is now seeking a review of the Biosafety Act to cover emerging technologies related to GMOs such as genome editing, gene-drives technologies, synthetic biology, biosecurity and pharmaceuticals.

The authority has since assured Kenyans in general of the safety of the GMOs and their derived products in the country.

The authority has already approved the commercialization of Bt Cotton, which has been in cultivation since 2020 and no adverse effects have been noted or reported through, the authority’s monitoring and surveillance system.

He said Kenyan has a well-established legal, regulatory and institutional framework which provides for streamlined processes for persons dealing in GMOs and their derived products in the country.