Abstract:

1.1 RegulationofBiotechnology
The advent of biotechnology has come with many promises and also many challenges, including concerns about the safety of its products both to human health and to the environment. This is the principle reason biotechnology has come to close scrutiny compared to other technologies developed in the agriculture sector. Regulation of biotechnology therefore is meant to ensure that the technology is safe by ensuring environmental and food safety. It was because of these concerns that an international protocol for regulation of biotechnology was negotiated. This is known as the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which entered into force on 11th September 2003, 90 days after receiving the 50th instrument of ratification, including Uganda's.
Through standard practices therefore, methods of regulating biotechnology at the national level have been developed as a result of domestication of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Each of the signatory countries to the protocol is obliged to put in place regulatory regimes and institutional frameworks for regulation of m o d e r biotechnology. In Uganda, there is a National Competent Authority, the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology which has a National Biosafety Committee (NBC) that reviews and approves all applications involving DNA technology. In each of the institutions conducting GMO research, there is an Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) that works with the scientists to ensure that what they are doing is safe, and the IBC submits regular reports to the NBC. There is also a system, implemented by the NBC, for compliance inspection and monitoring of trials and facilities in place for conducting modern biotechnology research in Uganda. Al these are aimed at ensuring that biotechnology is conducted in a safe manner and once new products or varieties are released, they are safe for both human consumption and the environment in which they are growing.