E-mail:
Country:
Ghana
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Ministry of Environment Science Technology and Inn
Contact person name:
Eric Amaning Okoree
Website:
Physical full address:
Ministries Accra
Phone number:
00233208163038
Fax number:
00233302688913/68866
Country introduction
Summary:
The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, is responsible for the regulation of all activities related to the management of the environment for the purpose of attaining sustainable development in line with the Millenium development goals. Consequently, the Ministry is responsible for the implementation of the Biosafety Law (Act 831) which came into force on 31 December 2011.
The Ministry imlemented the National Biosafety Authority in July 2015 to be responsible for all matters on rDNA-derived foods. The NBA receives, reviews and decides on all applications of this nature. Based on the type of application, the Act 831 constituted the Technical Advisory Committee to review the application and submit report to the Board of the NBA to make decision. Ghana has not yet carried out any rDNA-derived food safety assessment however, the NBA has approved confined field trials of rDNA-derived cotton, sweet potato, rice and cowpea. Currently, the National Biosafety Clearing House is undergoing maintenance, however the Ghana page on the Global Biosafety Clearing House has additional information that may be accessed through the following address: bch.cbd.int/about/countryprofile.shtml?country=gh
Framework
Regulatory framework:
My country has a regulatory framework that requires the competent authority to conduct safety assessment of GM food.
Structure for GM food safety assessment:
My country has competent authority, agency, organization, ministry, department, committee, commission or a system/mechanism that is tasked to conduct or review GM food safety assessment.
Supplemental information:
Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:
National Biosafety Authority, working with the Food and Drugs Authority as the Regulatory Agency for Food safety.
Assessment
GM food safety assessment guidelines:
My country follows the relevant Codex Guidelines or national/regional guidelines that are in line with the Codex Guidelines in conducting safety assessment of GM food.
Conduct of GM food safety assessment:
My country has never conducted food safety assessment of GM food but is planning to conduct such assessment in the near future.
Supplemental information on the implementation:
Stacked events
Regulation of stacked events:
In my country, GM food/feed that contains stacked event(s) is considered as a new product even if all single events that are stacked have already approved.
Supplemental information on the stacked events:
Production and trade
GM food/feed production:
My country does not produce any GM food or feed.
GM food/feed imports:
My country allows imports GM food or feed upon authorization.
Supplemental information on the production and trade:
LLP/AP incidents
LLP/AP incidents:
My country has not faced any LLP/AP situations in the last 10 years.
Supplemental information on the LLP/AP incidents:
Labelling requirement
Labelling requirement:
My country is in the process of developing regulations/policies on GM food labeling.
Supplemental information on the Labelling requirement:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment
Other relevant documents:
Country information last modified:
10/07/2020
