Regulation of GMOs in South Africa
© The African Centre for Biosafety 2007
ISBN: 978-0-620-39333-1
by Mariam Mayet
The ACB has been motivated to write this paper by the coming into effect on the 17th April 2007, of the Genetically Modified Organisms Amendment Act (No. 23 of 2006).(ii) This amends the Genetically Modified Organisms Act No. 15 of 1997 (‘GMO Act’), 10 years after it became part of the body of post-apartheid statutes in South Africa.
The author has in the past few years, on behalf of the NGO, Biowatch South Africa, thoroughly interrogated and critiqued the GMO Act.(iii) In addition, the ACB has interrogated countless permit applications in terms of the GMO Act,(iv) and thus, offers this document as a further contribution to our on-going work in the field of biosafety in South Africa.
Table of Contents
Summary of GMO act as amended
Introduction
Historical context
GMOs in South Africa
GMO Policy
GM Regulation in SA
The GMO Act (as amended)
Executive Council and decision making
Additional powers of the Executive Council
Advisory Council
Role, functions and powers of the Registrar
Monitoring
Labelling and the right to know
Traceability and implications for international trade
Liability and redress
Public awareness and input
Confidential Business Information (CBI)
Appeals
Conclusion
Useful websites
Annex 1
References