Algeria
Country introduction:
In Algeria, there is a limited understanding of the biosafety issues partly due to the low levels of expertise in science and legislation, absence of research or production of modern biotechnology products and due to the fact that the first generation commercialized GM crops were not of special interest. However, there were concerns about people becoming passive consumers and the country becoming a land of experimentation through importation of food and agricultural inputs like seeds without any control.
On a legal point of view, the Protocol of Biosafety was signed in May 2000, but the effective ratification occurred in 2004, although some directions, based on the precautionary principle, have been given and have led the Algerian government through the ministry of Agriculture to impose a ban on the import, dissemination, marketing and utilization of GMOs in December 2000. The implementation of this law is however difficult since nothing has been set up to control neither the imports, nor a legal context has been promulgated to manage these issues.
Moreover, Algeria is engaged into the project funded by UNEP-GEF on the development of national human resources (policy makers) on biosafety. In that context, a National Coordination Committee has been set up and gathers institutional representatives from agriculture, health, environment, trade, scientific research, industrials and civil society organizations. Among the latest, one NGO, AREA-ED, plays an interface role by also driving an associative project on the civil society participation to the biosafety process in Algeria. Several workshops have been held and allowed a great consultation.
On the basis of these projects, a draft of NBF has been validated by policy makers of all ministerial sectors involved in the biosafety process. However, this NBF is not translated in law until now and no additional regulation like food labeling are set up and taken into account in it implementation.
On a legal point of view, the Protocol of Biosafety was signed in May 2000, but the effective ratification occurred in 2004, although some directions, based on the precautionary principle, have been given and have led the Algerian government through the ministry of Agriculture to impose a ban on the import, dissemination, marketing and utilization of GMOs in December 2000. The implementation of this law is however difficult since nothing has been set up to control neither the imports, nor a legal context has been promulgated to manage these issues.
Moreover, Algeria is engaged into the project funded by UNEP-GEF on the development of national human resources (policy makers) on biosafety. In that context, a National Coordination Committee has been set up and gathers institutional representatives from agriculture, health, environment, trade, scientific research, industrials and civil society organizations. Among the latest, one NGO, AREA-ED, plays an interface role by also driving an associative project on the civil society participation to the biosafety process in Algeria. Several workshops have been held and allowed a great consultation.
On the basis of these projects, a draft of NBF has been validated by policy makers of all ministerial sectors involved in the biosafety process. However, this NBF is not translated in law until now and no additional regulation like food labeling are set up and taken into account in it implementation.
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 (regulatory framework):
Relevant contact details:
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 safety assessment of GM food and will not (be able to) conduct such assessment in the near future.
Supplemental information (assessment):
Regulation stacked events:
The country is in the process of developing relevant policies on assessment of stacked events, or there is no specific regulation on stacked events.
Supplemental information (stacked events):
GM food/feed production:
My country produces GM food or feed for commercial and research purposes.
GM food/feed imports:
My country may import GM food or feed and there is no authorization process.
Supplemental information (production and trade):
For the production of GM food and feed, Algeria import maize ans soya for transformation for floor, oil, feed. A published study showed the detectionon of GM soya and maize in several products commercilized. (LOUANCHI M, BELALIA N, LEHAD A, LAALA S & SALHI L N. 2017. Qualitative detection of genetically modified material in crops and food products containing maize and soybean in Algeria. African Journal of Biotechnology, 16(7), 322-327. DOI :10.5897/AJB2016.15537
LLP/AP incidents:
My country has not faced any LLP/AP situations in the last 10 years.
Supplemental information (LLP/AP incidents):
Labelling requirement:
My country does not have any labeling regulations/policies on GM food.
Supplemental information (labelling requirement):
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