Cartagena protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the International

debates (COP-MOP)

Stakeholders’ workshop on the Biosafety

Bill,2007

Thursday July26,2007

Jacaranda Hotel, Nairobi

Harrison K. Macharia-

National Council for Science and Technology (NCST)

Contents

• Objectives of the protocol (Article 1). General Provisions (Article 2). Scope (Article 4). Pharmaceuticals (Article 5). Handling, Transport, Packaging and identification Article

(18). Competent national authorities and national focal points

(Article19). Information sharing and the Biosafety Clearing House

(Article 20). Capacity Building (Article 22). Public awareness and participation (Article 23). Contentious issues (Articles 18,26,27,20 discussed

under COP_MOP meetings The Kenya Biosafety bill,2007.

Objectives of the protocol (Article 1).

To ensuring an adequate level of protection in the field of the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms resulting from modern Biotechnology that may have adverse effects on conservation and sustainable use of Biological Diversity taking into account risks to human health, and especially focusing on transboundary movements.

General Provisions (Article 2).

AS per today 141 has signed and ratified the protocol.

Kenya signed in May 2000 and ratified the protocol in January 2002

Therefore each country which has ratified the protocol shall take necessary and appropriate legal, administrative and other measures to implement its obligations under this protocol.

Scope (Article 4).

The Protocol shall apply to the transboundary movement, transit, handling and use of all living modified organisms that may have adverse effects on conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health.

Pharmaceuticals (Article 5).

The protocol shall not apply to the transboundary movement of living modified organisms which are pharmaceuticals for humans that are addressed by other relevant international agreements or organisations.

Handling, Transport, Packaging and identification (Article 18).

Each country shall take necessary measures to require that Living modified organisms that are subjected to intentional transboundary movement within the scope of the Protocol are handled, packaged and transported under conditions of safety taking into consideration relevant intentional rules and standards.

Competent National authorities and national focal points (Article19).

Each country shall designate one national focal point to be responsible on its behalf for liaison with Secretariat (CBD) at Montreal Canada.

Each party shall also designate one or more competent authorities which shall be responsible for administrative functions (monitoring, inspection and enforcement) required by this protocol

Information sharing and the Biosafety Clearing House (Article 20).

The Biosafety Clearing House is meant to facilitate the exchange of scientific technical environmental and legal information on, experience with living modified organisms.

Each country shall make available to the Biosafety Clearing House any existing laws, regulations, guidelines for the implementation of the protocol.

Kenya has a Biosafety Clearing House at the National Council for Science and Technology through our website; www.Biosafetykenya.co.ke

Capacity Building (Article 22).

The countries shall cooperate in development and/or strengthening of human resources and institutional capacities in Biosafety for the purpose of effective implementation of this protocol.

Public awareness and participation (Article 23).

The Country/party shall promote and facilitate public awareness, education and participation concerning the safe handling and use of living modified organisms in relation to the conservation and sustainable use of Biological diversity taking into account risks to human health.

Contentious issues (Articles 16, 18,26,27,20 discussed under COP_MOP meetings

There has been international debates discussing the above articles.

The first Conference of Parties-Meeting of Parties (COP-MOP) was held in Malaysia in 2004.

Second meeting was held in Montreal in 2005 The third was held in Brazil in 2006. There will be the 4th meeting to be held in Germany

in 2008.

The Kenya Biosafety bill,2007.

Has been developed in order to implement the Protocol.

The Protocol is meant to regulate Modern Biotechnology activities and transboundary movement of living modified organisms.

Thank you

Very much