Cameroon Biosafety Project
The Cameroon Biosafety Project has as Executing Agency the Ministry of Environment and Forestry ( www.minef.iccnet.cm ) charged with the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in Cameroon. This Project which has been operational in Cameroon since 1998 emanated from the ACCORD N°.GF/12000-98-73 of 30 th March 1998 for the pilot phase and ACCORD N° .GFL/2716-02-4533 (PMS:3010-02-07) of 1 st October 2002 for the implementation phase, between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Government of Cameroon, represented by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MINEF). Some of the activities of this project include identification of major Stakeholders in Biodiversity and Biosafety; Programming awareness creation meetings/seminars/workshops on biosafety; preparing decision makers from various institutions towards the implementation of biosafety laws. The principal body of this structure is the National Biosafety Committee which oversees the implementation of the Biosafety Protocol in Cameroon. Other important Biosafety decision makers include the National Competent Authority and the Biosafety Focal Point
Project Rationale and Objectives
The goal of the Project is to support the implementation of the objectives of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in the signatory countries. The specific objectives among others include:
• To support the establishment of a legal and administrative biosafety management system in order to enable the safe use (including contained use), handling, transboundary movement, including transit, of genetically modified organisms that have an adverse effect on human/animal life, biodiversity and the environment in Cameroon and meet the obligations foreseen under the Cartagena Protocol;
• Strengthen and, where necessary build capacity at legislative, administrative level of decision-makers and officers of key government Ministries involved in modern biotechnology and other stakeholders on how to implement the biosafety regulation and therefore enable the safe research (on) use, commercialisation and transboundary movement of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs);
• Strengthen the national capacity and facilities for improving GMOs risk assessment, management and monitoring;
• Strengthen the national information system by setting up a data system, Biosafety National Clearing House and NGOs' involvement;
• Enhance national capacity for public awareness on biosafety issues, measures and procedures, disseminate information material to the public, main stakeholders and community based organisations also using procedures, and disseminate information material to the public, main stakeholders and community based organisations also using the traditional systems of communication.
General Information
History of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
Ratification
Cameroon signed the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety on the 9th of Fefbruary and later ratified on the 18th of December 2001. This protocol entered into force on the 18th of December 2003 after ratification by the 50th party-palau on 13th June 2003. Click here for the list of countries having ratified the C P B
Definitions
For the sake of the implementation of the C P B in General and the Cameroon biosafety law No 006/2003 of 21st April 2003 laying down Safety regulations governing Modern Bior-technology in Cameroon, the text has adopted some terminology. This can be read under the chapter of definitions in the cameroon Law
