Background
Department of Biosafety was established in 2010 as a federal department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment through the rating of the Biosafety Core Team established in 2008. This department is the main national authority for all activities related to biosafety/modern biotechnology and monitors all activities relating to living modified organisms (LMOs) and products of such organisms. This department is also the Trustee to the National Biosafety Board (LBB) and the Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC).
Currently, the Department of Biosafety is managed by 25 staff, which is structured under three (3) sections and one (1) unit which is the Research and Evaluation Section; Enforcement and Monitoring Section; Corporate and Management Section; and Integrity Unit:
- Research and Evaluation Section responsible for processing applications (for applications for approval, notification and registration of the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)) and issuing approval certificates. As the Secretariat for GMAC, this section is responsible for preparing documents for GMAC evaluation, obtaining input from relevant government agencies, and coordinating GMAC's recommendations to LBK.
- Enforcement and Monitoring Section responsible for all monitoring and enforcement activities, including sampling and analysis of products suspected of containing LMO, conducting investigations for suspected non-compliant activities, and enforcement of LBK decisions for approval and notification applications.
- Corporate and Management Section responsible for coordinating human resource affairs, managing financial allocations for all programs/activities as well as carrying out promotions and publicity. This section is also the secretariat to the National Biosafety Board.
- Integrity Unit is the focal point for the management of integrity issues in the Biosafety Department.