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. The NBC has been dormant for over a year.
Framework
Regulatory framework:
My country does not have a regulatory framework that requires the competent authority to conduct safety assessment of GM food.
Structure for GM food safety assessment:
My country does not have 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:
13/07/2020
