E-mail:
Country:
Jamaica
Organization/agency name (Full name):
BUREAU OF STANDARDS JAMAICA
Contact person name:
Allison Richards
Website:
Physical full address:
6 Winchester Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica
Phone number:
(876) 855 5637
Fax number:
Country introduction
Summary:
Jamaica signed the Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biosafety Diversity (CBD) in June 2001; however this was not ratified until September 2012. Jamaica is now the 164th Party to the protocol. Presently, Jamaica does not have a registered entity that is responsible for assessment of GM-foods. There are no established regulations or guidelines that govern the safety, production or distribution of foods derived from r-DNA plants. However a National Biosafety Committee (NBC) was established to identify and monitor GMOs with undefined risks in Jamaica; to ensure that local regulations are adequate; to prepare guidelines, codes of conduct etc. for the relevant users of GMOs; to keep abreast of relevant international developments; and to keep the public informed on biosafety issues. Jamaica's Biosafety Policy was enacted in 2020, governing the use of modern biotechnology and its products. The National Biossafety Comittee whose core function is to determine any proposed releases to the environment, was reconvened in 2021.
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 is in the process in developing a structure for GM food safety assessment.
Supplemental information:
Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:
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:
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 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 does not have any labeling regulations/policies on GM food.
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:
05/10/2023
