Latest Resources

Wine Yeast ML01

Objection in Respect of the Application to the National Department Of Agriculture, South Africa by the Wine Research Centre (ubc) and Warrenchem Specialties for the Commercial Application of Ge Wine Yeast ML01. Read here.

Environmental Risk Assessment Framework for Genetically Modified Organisms

Submission to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism on the ‘Environmental Risk Assessment Framework for Genetically Modified Organisms’ Submitted by the African Centre for Biosafety (ACB) and Earthlife Africa eThekwini branch (ELA) Read here.

GM Cassava fails in Africa

The Donald Danforth plant science centre (the ‘Danforth Centre’), who’s partners include Monsanto corporation, has been pursuing disease-resistant Cassava since 1999 for its projects in Kenya. Despite initially claiming a breakthrough, the group has subsequently conceded (on the 26th of May, 2006) that its GM virus resistant Cassava has now lost resistance to the African […]

Is South Africa in the US WTO Sights Over GM Import Ban?

Opinion And Analysis: By Mariam Mayet, August 2006 South Africa’s ban on GM import approvals South Africa’s pro-genetic engineering (GE) stance is well documented[1] and enshrined in national government policy. [2] During the period 2001-4, South Africa’s Executive Council (ExCo)[3] established under the Genetically Modified Organisms Act (GMO Act) has allowed the importation into South […]

South Africa’s ban on GM import approvals

In September/October 2005, at the behest of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Executive Council (EC): GMO Act took the decision not to approve any more new GM applications for the purposes of importation in South Africa as food, feed and processing. The decision was taken to accommodate serious concerns by the DTI […]

Can the poor help GM crops? Technology, Representation, and Cotton in the Makhathini Flats

The adoption of Genetically Modified (GM) cotton in South Africa’s Makhathini Flats in 1998 was heralded as a case in which agricultural biotechnology could benefit smallholder farmers, and a model for the rest of the continent to follow. Using historical, political economic and ethnographic data, we find the initial enthusiasm around GM technology to be […]

Groups in Latin America and Africa call for rejection of World Bank GEF biosafety projects

Two World Bank projects, with funding from the GEF (Global Environmental Facility), propose to introduce genetically modified crops such as maize, potatoes, cassava, rice and cotton into African and Latin American countries that are centres of origin or diversity for these and other major food crops. Civil society organisations warn that DNA contamination from genetically […]

Adenovirus type 5 with HIV gag, pol and nef genes / Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital

Comments and Concerns on the application made by Prof. Glenda Gray in respect of HIV vaccine clinical trial of genetically modified organism (MRKAd5 HIV-1 gag/pol/nef) Comments and concerns It should be noted that this submission is written in the context of a country that is devastated by HIV-AIDS at every level. That solutions are needed […]

LibertyLink-Rice / Bayer CropScience

Application Made By Bayer Cropscience Gmbh In Respect Of A Commodity Clearance Application For Event Llrice62 To The National Department Of Agriculture, South Africa African Centre for Biosafety, supported by various organisations, groups, companies, and individuals. Read here.

Article 18(2)(a): The Trojan Horse of the Biosafety Protocol

Read the article here. By Mariam Mayet African Centre for Biosafety July 2006 The “may contain” labels flood the feed sector. Even transboundary movements which could pass as GM-free under existing legislation for LMO-FFPs are labelled as “may contain”. Grain trade and important ports are leading in this clever move which actually ridicules the Protocol. […]