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Ignorance reigns as GMOs take root
2007-05-22 09:07:25
By Austin Beyadi
There is need to create awareness about genetically-modified organisms because biotechnology is rapidly developing with more GMOs being released into the environment and causing risks to animal and human health.
The remarks were made yesterday by the Director of Environment in the Vice President`s Office, Erick Mugurusi.
``Information should be availed to the public on GMOs that have been received or denied authorization into the country,`` he said.
Speaking during a national biosafety framework implementation workshop held in Bagamoyo yesterday, Mugurusi said there was a need for establishment of a proper mechanism to create awareness so as to enable the public participate in the implementation of biosafety measures.
He said currently, the country was experiencing lively public debates on a wide range of issues related to science and technology but not on GMOs, although these were becoming a major health and environmental concern globally.
``The level of public awareness on biotechnology and biosafety in Tanzania is extremely low, even amongst the scientific community,`` he said.
Magurusi added that possible explanations for the low awareness included the recent nature of GMO technology and limited knowledge at all levels on benefits and risks associated with GMOs.
He said it was difficult to collect statistics on the impact of GMOs to public health and environment since there was low expertise about GMOs.
He said Tanzania lacked inspection equipment, which could have been installed at all border points to prevent entry of GMOs into the country.
He said competent authorities and other institutions responsible for making biosafety decisions should promote public awareness, education, and participation in research, development, handling and transboundary movement.
He said the framework would also establish a science-based, holistic, transparent decision making system and integrated participation so that Tanzania could benefit from modern biotechnology while minimizing the inherent environmental, health and socioeconomic risks.
He said that Tanzania could regulate the transport of GMOs through its territories and make available to the Biosafety Clearing House (BCH) any decision regarding the transit of GMOs through its territory.
He said the national biosafety framework would facilitate the regulation of modern biotechnology within the country.
He added that the framework also entailed building capacity in risk management, assessment, detection of GMOs and participation in decision-making process.
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