Genetic technology mutations in natural products are disadvantageous to natural producers and consumers in Ethiopia. In particular, it is said that genetic modification was forbidden not be imposed on consumers.
As a result, Ethiopia has been reluctant to accept this technology for many years, but there are speculations that the new law focuses on technology transfer for its safety.
The Ethiopian Herald has approached Assefa Gudina, Director of the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission keen on learning the reason why the law should be modified.
He explained that the law has been discussed for many years with various organizations and it is being used to increase production and productivity level of the country in using genetic engineering models.
This law has been discussed and rewritten by various parties since 2009. The Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Commission is not alone when modifying this law. It has been discussing the case with concerned organizations and institutions in the country several times from 2009 up to 2015.
Institutions (organizations) that involved in this legislative process have been from different surveyed researches, the industry institutions, ministry offices, other corporation offices, and others have been targeted to increase production and productivity. This has been done aiming to cover the need for technologically assisted production in the country.
As he stated that the main point is that the law needs to be amended because it is hindering the employer’s regulation and the process of increasing production and productivity through divesting the capacity of the country it can produce with the assistance of technology.
He added that this is a new law that has been amended to bring this technology into the country and to increase the country’s production and productivity with the support of the newly developed genetic technology from the previously experienced countries in using this technology.
During the past times, one of the reasons why this new genetic technology was not allowed to enter into Ethiopia and applied throughout the country was because it was said to have an impact on human health and because of environmental issues.
In this regard, the Director of Food Institutions of the Ethiopian Food and Drug Administration, Bettere Getahun said that it is vibrantly vital to put an article in the amended law on this genetically modified product that comes with technology assistance. Because, it is not convincing to say that all technology-assisted findings could be important are important and their reason is acceptable as the country may face loss of indigenous species due to the insertion of unknown genetically modified species into the country.
Adding he said: “If the genetic change is harmful to health, they will take responsibility for the study of genetic mutations”. According to international law, he said: “If a product is genetically modified, this means that it must enclose description with the product. Besides, our country should be able to prepare the same law and the law ought to be ratified.”
“If it is found that the mutation has been performed in a laboratory, the Ethiopian Food and Drug Regulatory Authority will make it clear to the public that the change has been made for the public’s interest.”
He noted that it is not an issue that is being addressed by the Authority as it is not entered into the country yet. But they are on the way that they can look at the studies that they have just taken and look at the seriousness of the problem and what measures should be taken next.
On the other hand, Dr. Tadesse Daba, Director of Agricultural Biotechnology at the Ethiopian Center for Agricultural Research, said that there are a lot of discussions at the international level. The threat is not because it is a problem of the country, but because of other countries’. He said that genetics does not need to pass through modified technology to benefit the environment and society.
“We know that genetically modified cells are harmful not only for the plant, but it is important to alarm about the safety of the entire species. Moreover, they are not good for the environment and the community’s well-being. But it is true that there is no technology to say that this is a new study and that we are just starting out in our country.”
The above-mentioned institutions say that change will increase production and productivity, but the information received from the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture is different from what they say.
In contrast, Esayas Lemma, Director of Crop Development at the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture said that previously, there was genetic change in Ethiopia, but it has been banned and it is still banned to be applied in the country.
As a source of genetics, the country has banned some of non-food crops and other crops used for food are also banned, he noted.
But as an origin of genetic resource, Ethiopia is one of the eight countries in the world that are considered to be the source of the most estimated species in biological classification. He noted that this is a country with a large accumulation of genetic resources and that in this regard, during the ownership of the Environmental Protection Authority, this genetic technology was banned from entering to Ethiopia.
In this case, however, it is a completely transformed species from nature. They say that if these completely modified species entered the country, it will destroy our crops. “No one can import and register,” he said.
Esayas added that any country can do research when it comes to new genes, but it is forbidden to do so. This shows that there is misinformation in the institutions of our country, but on the other hand, the American institutions that brought this genetic technology have been promoting the species to the public while supporting in various ways with aid and other fields.
As a result of this new genetic technology, those who have suffered the most, like Indian farmers, have risked their lives and endangered their country’s livelihood.
As contradictions prevail and this institution is keeping on its effort, it remains to be seen whether Ethiopia, which is rich in life-saving resources, will learn from other countries or whether the African Ministries of Agriculture will use genetically modified technology for Africa as saying important for Africa as a whole.
The Ethiopian Herald July 21, 2020
BY MUSSA MUHAMMED
