Focal Point Information

E-mail:

[email protected]

Country:

Liberia

Organization/agency name (Full name):

Ministry of Health and Social Welfare

Contact person name:

Kalilu S. Donzo

Website:

http://www.moci.gov.lr/

Physical full address:

Division of Environmental and Occupational Health, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Oldest Congo Town, Monrovia, Liberia

Phone number:

+231777560675

Fax number:

Country introduction

Summary:

Currently, Liberia has a drafted Biosafety law for regulating GMOs and GM foods that is pending before the house of parliament for enactment. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the principal agency of government that is responsible for all matters on rDNA-derived foods. The Biosafety unit at EPA, regulates the issuing of the permit, monitor and inspect the GMO facilities, etc. in the country. In relation to synergetic efforts amongst the government agencies, the National Biosafety Committee was established which comprises of the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. The Ministry of Health (formerly called the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare) leads on issues of food and medicine/biotechnology. Laboratory to examine GM Foods is partially established and need to be equipped and developed the human resource capacity. Regulations on GMO products are being developed. Additionally, there is a memorandum of understanding, between the EPA and the Ministry of Commerce to build and or strengthen the capacity of the National Standard Board to perform the analytical test on GM Food and etc. There is a consumer protection association, but not actively functioning. Policies, protocols, and guidelines on food safety and quality only have been developed but need to be upgraded. Couples of food safety assessment have been conducted. In terms of support, the UNEP and GEF have supported the drafting of the Biosafety legislation and relevant standards, guidelines, protocols, and systems for regulating GMOs and GM Foods. Also, there is limited funding provided by L’Institute Dusahel (International NGO) through the USAID for awareness creation.

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:

Liberia has a regulatory framework that requires the competent authority to conduct a safety assessment of GM food currently, Liberia has a drafted Biosafety law for regulating GMOs and GM foods that is pending before the house of parliament for enactment. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the principal agency of government that is responsible for all matters on rDNA-derived foods.

Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:

Liberia has a competent authority, agency, organization, ministry, department, committee, commission or a system/mechanism that is tasked to conduct or review GM food safety assessment. The regulatory framework that requires the competent authority to conduct a safety assessment of GM food currently shall operate on the mandate of the drafted Biosafety law for regulating GMOs and GM foods that is pending before the house of parliament for enactment.

Assessment

GM food safety assessment guidelines:

My country does not conduct safety assessment of GM food but the country has, or the country is in the process of developing national/regional guidelines that are not 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:

The conduct of a safety assessment of GM food for any country and the implementation of regional guidelines that are in line with the Codex Guidelines in conducting a safety assessment of GM food is dependent upon a technical implementing (testing laboratory). My country has never conducted food safety assessment of GM food but is planning to conduct such assessment in the near future with available laboratory facility but needs human resource capacity.

Stacked events

Regulation of stacked events:

My country is in the process of developing relevant regulations on stacked events.

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 does not monitor LLP/AP situations.

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