E-mail:
Country:
Cameroon
Organization/agency name (Full name):
ministry of environment, protection of nature and
Contact person name:
ZIEKINE Angèle épse WADOU
Website:
Physical full address:
MINEPDED-Cameroon
Phone number:
0023777346024
Fax number:
Country introduction
Summary:
Cameroon is located in Central Africa and stretches from the Gulf of Guinea to Lake Chad, between 2° to 13° of North latitude and from the 8°30’ to 16°20’ East longitude. The Country covers a surface area of 475 446 km2 and has a 402 km stretch of Atlantic Ocean coast line. It is bordered to the south by Republics of Congo, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, to the North by Lake Chad, to the East by Republic of Chad and the Central African Republic and to the west by Republic of Nigeria.
Cameroon is endowed with a rich biodiversity, both in variety and in quantity, characterised by a high degree of globally significant national and regional endemic species, many of which are threatened. This wealth of biological diversity constitutes an enormous reservoir of genetic material. Cameroon’s commitment to safeguard its rich biodiversity as a base for its socio-economic development is reflected in its ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in 1994 and 2003 respectively. This commitment has been further translated in the adoption of legal frameworks such as the 1996 Framework Law on the Environment, the 2003 law on Modern Biotechnology, forestry law etc.
Biosafety issues in Cameroon are governed by Law N° 2003/006 of 21st April 2003 laying down Safety Regulations Governing Modern Biotechnology and Decree N° 2007/0737/PM of 31 May 2007 applying the Law. The Ministry of Environment, Protection of Nature and Sustainable Development is the National Competent Authority with regards to Biosafety in Cameroon. This ministry is charged with the responsibility of coordinating biosafety activities and it takes decisions on issues relating to biotechnology upon consultation with the National Biosafety Committee. The National Biosafety Committee was created in 2012 and has as mandate to give opinions on all questions relating to Biosafety in Cameroon. This Committee regroups a wide range of key stakeholder institutions as well as an Ad hoc Scientific Committee (from a pool of experts) for technical support.
In Cameroon, the biosafety process is also supported by laboratories carrying out biosafety activities such as the detection and monitoring of GMOs. These laboratories include amongst others, Biotechnology Centres in the Universities of Buea and Yaoundé I, the phytosanitary laboratory lodged in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the laboratory at Centre Pasteur du Cameroun for pathogens, the Johns Hopkins Institute and other diagnostic and research laboratories in Cameroon. However, there is still a need for capacity building in this aspect.
In Cameroon, there is an ongoing GEF/UNEP Full Size biosecurity project titled: “Development and Institution of a National Monitoring and Control System (Framework) for Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) and Invasive Alien Species (IAS)”. This project has as objective to build capacities to prevent and control the introduction, establishment and spread of Living Modified Organisms and Invasive Alien Species through the implementation of a risk-based decision making process. The Cameroon Biosecurity Project is divided into four main components as follows: Component one on Policy, Regulatory and Institutional Framework; Component two on Sustainable Biosecurity Strategies; component three on Capacity Building and Component four on Information and Awareness.
Framework
Regulatory framework:
My country is in the process in developing 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:
In Cameroon, even though the Competent National Authority takes decisions on Biosafety issues upon consultation with the National Biosafety Committee, there is need for continuous capacity building with regards to GM Foods assessment and review.
Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:
Decisions for the delivery of an Advanced Informed Agreement (authorization for LMO introduction) are taken by the National Competent Authority (Ministry of Environment, Protection of Nature and Sustainable Development) upon consultation with the National Biosafety Committee. This Committee is supported technically by a pool of experts constituting an Ad Hoc Scientific Committee. In addition, the services of laboratories operating within the domain of biosafety in Cameroon may be solicited during the GM food safety assessment process
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 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:
Within the framework of the Cameroon Biosecurity Project, the generic manual on LMO risk assessment and Management has been revised pending national validation. Furthermore, there is need for support to enable Cameroon in developing a national guideline which is inline with the Codex Guidelines
Stacked events
Regulation of stacked events:
There is no regulations in my country on stacked events.
Supplemental information on the stacked events:
Production and trade
GM food/feed production:
My country produces GM food or feed only for research purposes.
GM food/feed imports:
My country allows imports GM food or feed upon authorization.
Supplemental information on the production and trade:
The Law N° 2003/006 of 21st April 2003 laying down Safety Regulations Governing Modern Biotechnology and Decree N° 2007/0737/PM of 31 May 2007 applying the Law lays down conditions for the importation, domestic use and placing on the market of GM food and feed. Up till date, Cameroon has not officially authorised the importation of GM food and feed. However, there is a possibility that, so far in Cameroon, GM food or feed may have entered Cameroon in an illegal manner
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 has a mandatory and positive labeling regulation on GM food (i.e., It contains GMO).
Supplemental information on the Labelling requirement:
Labelling, packaging and marketing considerations are clearly covered in sections of Law N° 2003/006 of 21st April 2003 laying down Safety Regulations Governing Modern Biotechnology and Decree N° 2007/0737/PM of 31 May 2007 applying the Law. The Law requires producers and senders of GMOs or products thereof, to package and label as follows: “Product based on genetically modified organisms”, or “contains genetically modified organisms
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment
Other relevant documents:
Country information last modified:
12/10/2018
