US embassy cable - 04ABUJA2146

UNCLAS ABUJA 002146 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE/OES/ETC FOR H.LEE 
STATE/EB/TPP/ABT FOR R.SINGH 
USDA/FAS/BIG FOR JPPASSINO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV, ETRD, EAGR, EAID, TBIO 
SUBJECT:  NIGERIA'S PREPARATIONS FOR ROUND 2 OF THE 
CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY 
 
REF:  STATE 259661 
 
1.  This is an update of biosafety developments that have 
occurred in Nigeria since February 2004.  According to 
Nigerian press reporting, biotechnologists, journalists, and 
other stakeholders met twice for a "brainstorming and public 
outing [discussion]" of Nigeria's National Biosafety 
Frameworks program in Nigeria in 2004.  These meetings took 
place in Ibadan in April and in Zaria in December. 
 
2.  The institution responsible for biosafety in Nigeria is 
the National Biosafety Committee (NBC), a technical advisory 
body to the Ministry of Agriculture.  The NBC is responsible 
for formulating policies and procedures pertaining to 
Nigerian agro-biotechnology.  This committee comprises 
representatives from the ministries of agriculture, 
industry, environment, health, and science and technology, 
as well as representatives from Nigeria's private sector and 
scientific community. 
 
3.  Embassy Abuja ESTH Officer spoke on December 28 with 
Mathew Dore, the national project coordinator of the 
Nigerian National Biosafety Frameworks program, which comes 
under the NBC.  Dore said Nigeria does not have biosafety 
legislation, but a draft law is circulating within the 
relevant ministries and agencies.  This proposed legislation 
would establish biosafety controls on the transboundary 
movement of living modified organisms (LMOs) and regulate 
controlled trials, field trials, and commercial sales of 
LMOs in Nigeria.  According to Dore, the proposed 
legislation would also address the issue of documentation 
accompanying LMOs, as well as the issues of the Biosafety 
Clearing House, liability, and redress. 
 
4.  Dore said Nigeria plans to hold two public hearings on 
biosafety for stakeholders and industry representatives by 
March 2005.  He expects the relevant legislation to reach 
the National Assembly by June 2005. 
 
5.  According to Professor C.P.E. Omaliko, director general 
of Nigeria's National Biotechnology Development Agency, the 
country's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration 
Control has not developed regulations on labeling 
genetically modified foods, organisms, or drugs, and is not 
considering developing such legislation. 
 
FUREY