Focal Point Information

E-mail:

[email protected]

Country:

Malawi

Organization/agency name (Full name):

Ministry of Agriculture

Contact person name:

Willard Mbewe

Website:

http://dars.mw/

Physical full address:

Chitedze Agricultural Research Station, Lilongwe, Malawi

Phone number:

+265997939099

Fax number:

+2651707041

Country introduction

Summary:

Malawi enacted a Biosafety Act in 2002, Gazetted the Biosafety Regulations in 2007, and approved a Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy in 2008. The Act is being reviewed to align it to the AU Protocol. The National Biosafety Regulatory Committee (NBRC) was established in 2007 pursuant to the provisions of the Biosafety Act of 2002. The overarching mandate of NBRC is to exercise general supervision and control over development, transfer, handling and use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) so as to ensure safety of human and animal health, and also provide adequate protection of the environment. NBRC is the competent authority of the Government of the Republic of Malawi. NBRC is housed under the Department of Environmental Affairs, which is also a Focal Point of the Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety. The Authority regulates all activities involving GMOs in food, feed, research, industry, trade and environmental release. Since its inception in 2007, the Authority has developed a number of Regulations, guidelines and operating procedures, such as the Regulations, 2007 to guide research on GMOs, the Environmental release Regulations, 2007, Import, Export and Transit Regulations, 2007. Hence, Malawi has a functional regulatory framework for GMOs although the issue of substantive Registrar for NBRC is not yet sorted out.

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:

Bt. Cotton CFTs conducted 2013 to 2015, variety registration trials commenced 2015

Bt. Cowpea CFTs in second year of testing this year 2017

GMO banana trials at proof of concept stage

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

Dr. Lilian Chimphepo
Principal Environmental Officer (Biosafety)
Environmental Affairs Department
Private Bag 394
Lilongwe
Malawi

Cell: +265 888890908

email: [email protected]

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 regularly conducts food safety assessment of GM food.

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:

I do not know if my country has faced any LLP/AP issues in the last 10 years.

Supplemental information on the LLP/AP incidents:

Labelling requirement

Labelling requirement:

My country has a mandatory and negative labeling regulation on GM food (i.e., It does not contain GMO).

Supplemental information on the Labelling requirement:

Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment