Biotechnology Law at Egypt
Egypt's biotechnology legal framework is currently under development, with several key aspects still pending formalization.
🧬 Current Status of Biotechnology Regulation in Egypt
1. Absence of a Comprehensive Biosafety Law
Egypt does not yet have a fully enacted national biosafety law. While a draft law has been prepared and reviewed by the Ministry of Justice, it has not been submitted to the People's Assembly for approval .(
2. Ministerial Decrees and Guidelines
In the absence of comprehensive legislation, several ministerial decrees and guidelines have been issued:
Ministerial Decree No. 85 (1995): Established the National Biosafety Committee (NBC), tasked with setting regulations and guidelines concerning the safe use of genetic engineering and biotechnology research .
Ministerial Decree No. 242 (1997): Prohibited the importation of genetically engineered foods unless their safety had been established .
However, these decrees are not legally binding and do not constitute a comprehensive regulatory framework.
3. Regulatory Oversight
Oversight of biotechnology in Egypt is shared among several ministries and agencies:
Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (MARL): Through the Agricultural Research Center (ARC) and the Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute (AGERI), MARL conducts research on genetically engineered crops.
Ministry of Health and Population: Responsible for public health aspects related to biotechnology, including the regulation of genetically engineered foods.
Ministry of Trade and Supply: Oversees import and export regulations, including those related to genetically engineered products.
Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality Control: Develops and enforces standards for biotechnology products.
Ministry of Environment: Addresses environmental concerns related to biotechnology.
These agencies collaborate through the National Biosafety Committee, which has been inactive since 2014 .
4. Research and Development
Despite the lack of formal legislation, Egypt has active research in agricultural biotechnology:
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI): Located at the University of Sadat City, GEBRI focuses on developing crops that can tolerate salinity, drought, and heat.
Cairo University: The Faculty of Agriculture conducts gene editing research to improve drought tolerance in wheat and chickpeas using CRISPR/Cas9 technology
However, field trials and commercial cultivation of genetically engineered crops are currently prohibited under Ministerial Decree 378/2012, which suspended such activities .
5. Imports and Labeling
Egypt permits the importation of genetically engineered crops if the country of origin also consumes these products. However, there are no specific labeling requirements for genetically engineered foods, and such products are treated the same as conventional products
⚖️ Summary
Egypt's biotechnology legal landscape is characterized by:
Lack of a comprehensive biosafety law: The draft law has not been enacted
Non-binding ministerial decrees: These provide some guidelines but lack legal enforceability.
Fragmented regulatory oversight: Multiple ministries share responsibilities without a unified approach.
Active research: Ongoing biotechnology research, particularly in agriculture, despite regulatory constraints.
Permissive import policy: Imports of genetically engineered products are allowed under certain conditions, but labeling requirements are absent.
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