Latest Resources

24 August 2006

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 […]

2 August 2006

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 […]

27 July 2006

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 […]

24 June 2006

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 […]

14 June 2006

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.

4 June 2006

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. […]

4 June 2006

Pharma Crops and GE Vaccines

HIV Vaccine Clinical Trial Of Genetically Modified Organism (MRKAd5 HIV1 gag/pol/nef) African Centre for Biosafety Jun 2006. Read here. The Status Of Genetically Modified (gm) Pharmaceutical Crop Research In South Africa Mar 2006 Rose Williams. Read here.

29 May 2006

Bioethanol-Maize / Syngenta

COMMENTS BY THE AFRICAN CENTRE FOR BIOSAFETY AND THE CENTRE FOR FOOD SAFETY (USA) Comments on Syngenta’s Application for Commodity Clearance of Genetically Modified Maize, Event 3272 African Centre for Biosafety & Centre for Food Safety, 29 May 2006 Read here. OVERVIEW Syngenta’s Event 3272 maize represents the very first genetically modified (GM) industrial crop […]

6 May 2006

South Africa, Bioethanol and GMOs: A Heady Mixture

On the 12th of May 2006 Syngenta South Africa (Pty) Ltd, a subsidiary of Swiss chemical giant Syngenta, notified the public of its intention to seek commodity clearance for its GM maize for the use in the production of ethanol. This is the first GM application for commercial approval in the world for a non-feed, […]

1 March 2006

The status of Genetically Modified (GM) pharmaceutical crop research in South Africa

Genetically modified (GM) pharmaceutical crops are crops which have been genetically engineered / modified to produce pharmaceuticals. These pharmaceuticals can be vaccines, anti-bodies or therapeutic proteins. Pharma-crops (as they are known) are a contested and little-known terrain, with remarkable benefits being claimed for them in South Africa. Other voices ask about the contamination of the […]