Biotechnology Law at Tuvalu
Tuvalu's legal framework for biotechnology is primarily governed by the Biosecurity Act No. 24 of 2017, which provides a comprehensive approach to managing the importation and monitoring of organisms and related products to protect human health, agriculture, and the environment.
🇹🇻 Biosecurity Act No. 24 of 2017
Enacted on December 21, 2017, this Act establishes the biosecurity administration in Tuvalu. Its key provisions include:
Regulation of Imports and Exports: The Act oversees the safe importation and exportation of animals, plants, and their products, ensuring compliance with international biosecurity standards.
Quarantine Measures: It sets forth requirements for quarantine procedures to prevent the introduction and spread of pests and diseases.
Surveillance and Monitoring: The Act mandates surveillance and monitoring of pests and diseases affecting animals, plants, and the environment.
Risk Assessment: It includes provisions for biosecurity risk assessments to evaluate potential threats.
Offenses and Penalties: The Ac
The Minister is empowered to prohibit the import of particular regulated articles from specific countries if deemed to pose an unacceptable biosecurity risk to Tuvalu.
🧬 National Biosafety Framework (Draft)
In 2008, Tuvalu developed a draft National Biosafety Framework (NBF) to establish functional systems for risk assessment, management, and decision-making concerning genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The draft NBF includes:
National Policy on Biotechnology and Biosafety: A policy to guide the safe use of biotechnology and ensure biosafety.
Regulatory Regime: Provisions for handling applications, risk assessments, and decision-making processes.
Monitoring and Enforcement: Systems for monitoring, inspections, and enforcement of biosafety regulations.
Public Awareness: Programs to engage the public in biosafety matters.
While the NBF provides a foundational framework, its implementation and alignment with the Biosecurity Act are yet to be fully realized.
🌐 International Commitments
Tuvalu is a party to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which aims to ensure the safe transfer, handling, and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology. The country has developed its NBF to fulfill its obligations under this international agreement.
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