Malawi
Country introduction:
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.
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 (regulatory framework):
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
Bt. Cowpea CFTs in second year of testing this year 2017
GMO banana trials at proof of concept stage
Relevant contact details:
Dr. Lilian ChimphepoPrincipal Environmental Officer (Biosafety)Environmental Affairs DepartmentPrivate Bag 394Lilongwe Malawi
Cell: +265 888890908
email: lilianchimphepo@yahoo.co.uk
Cell: +265 888890908
email: lilianchimphepo@yahoo.co.uk
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 (assessment):
Regulation stacked events:
On a case-by-case basis, some stacked events may have reduced/simplified assessment requirements.
Supplemental information (stacked events):
Guidelines for safety assessment and risk management of genetically modified stacked gene event is available in Malawi. The approach of the safety assessment of stacked genetically modified (GM) products is determined based on the regulatory status of the individual events used in their development. In situations where all the events used in the stack are approved as safe, the regulatory committee check for any interactions if any before approval is granted. In cases where one or more events have not been approved, a thorough risk assessment is recommended. To-date Malawi has granted a permit to conduct confined field trials for GM maize MON 87427 × MON 89034 × MIR162 × NK603 to test is efficacy to confer resistance to lepidoptera pests and tolerant to glyphosate.
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 (production and trade):
LLP/AP incidents:
I do not know if my country has faced any LLP/AP issues in the last 10 years.
Supplemental information (LLP/AP incidents):
Labelling requirement:
My country has a mandatory and negative labeling regulation on GM food (i.e., It does not contain GMO).
Supplemental information (labelling requirement):
Relevant links:
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