Abstract:

This handbook is meant to give a straight-forward description of the regulatory procedures for confined field testing of transgenic crops in Uganda with specific emphasis on cotton. The introductory chapter includes background information on the regulation of biotechnology, the purpose of confined field trials, the of cotton and transgenic cotton. The core of the handbook is primarily a description of the standard operating procedures with specific elaboration of compliance procedures required for conducting the Confined Field Trial of GM cotton in Uganda. Considering the specific biology of cotton as a crop and also the specific requirements of the National Biosafety Committee (NBC) in the approved conduct of confined field trials (CFTs) of cotton in Uganda, this handbook has been developed to guide all the workers involved with the trial to ensure maximum biological and physical confinement. As provided for by the Confined Field Trial Guidelines, genetic confinement refers to measures put in place to ensure that introduced genes do not escape from a field trial into the surrounding environment through pollen flow or through propagative material that can potentially grow into mature plants and reproduce, and material confinement refers to measures put in place to ensure that all GM plant tissue is maintained within the confines of the approved field trial site or storage facility and does not enter the food or feed supply. This handbook is therefore meant to facilitate the principal investigator, the trial manager, and their staff working on the trial to follow the CFT Guidelines, the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) elaborated in the Trial Managers' Handbook as well as other terms and conditions of approval issued by the NBC in the conduct of confined field trials of transgenic cotton.