JOINT MEETING OF NBMA AND NAFDAC: STRENGTHENING COLLABORATION ON GMO SAFETY
Oru Leonard
In response to recent public concerns regarding Genetically Modified (GM) foods, a pivotal meeting was convened by the Honourable Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, bringing together the Director-General/CEO of National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) Dr Agnes Yemisi Asagbra and The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Prof Mojisola Adeyeye.
The Honourable Minister Dr. Alausa emphasized the importance of consistent communication among government agencies to alleviate public fears. He noted the need for a collaborative approach to address safety concerns related to GM foods, referencing extensive scientific evidence supporting their safety.
Dr. Agnes Yemisi Asagbra, DG of NBMA, appreciated the honourable minister for the meeting and highlighted the historical collaboration between NBMA and NAFDAC, including a Memorandum of Understanding established in 2017. She underscored that no GM food permits are issued without NAFDAC’s involvement, calling for enhanced cooperative efforts to ensure food safety.
In response, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, DG of NAFDAC, stated that her previous remarks on GM foods were misunderstood, emphasizing NAFDAC’s commitment to safety. She reaffirmed the agency’s rigorous safety standards, stating that no GM foods will be approved without thorough scientific safety assessments.
Key Resolutions from the meeting include: Establishing a Technical Working Group (TWG) between NBMA and NAFDAC, Developing Terms of Reference for the TWG and setting up a secretariat, Referring applicants to NBMA prior to processing by NAFDAC, Continuing collaboration on risk assessment and GM food labeling, Enhancing capacity building and training exchanges and Joint efforts in IT and Global Listing initiatives.
The meeting which was aimed to reinforce collaboration between the two agencies to ensure a unified message on food safety, marks a significant step towards unified governance in food safety and public health in Nigeria. Both agencies remain committed to ensuring that scientific evidence guides their actions, fostering public trust in food safety regulations.
Both DGs said that by working together, “we reaffirm our commitment to science, environmental protection and safeguarding the health of the nation”.
(NBMA Press)
