Before the National Biosafety Board (LBK) makes any decision about the application for LMO approval or LMO products, public consultation must be done. This condition is to comply with the provisions under the Biosafety Act 2007 [Section 14(c) and Section 16(3)]. Public consultation is made for field test applications as well as all other releases (supply or offer to supply for sale or put on the market and so on) involving LMO and LMO products.
Decision of the National Biosafety Board for approval applications based on:
a. recommendations from GMAC;
b. relevant Government agency feedback; and
c. public consultation.
Announcement of Public Consultation
The announcement regarding the public consultation is made in the form of a standard notice and published in at least 4 newspapers that use the main language (i.e. one Malay newspaper, one English newspaper, one Tamil newspaper and one Mandarin newspaper) that has national coverage (notices in Tamil and Mandarin newspapers will use the national language, Malay).
The notice will be made 2 times in the newspaper chosen by the applicant with an interval of 2 weeks [for example 1 January 2019 (first announcement), and 15 January 2019 (second announcement)].
Notices and Fact Sheets about the application will be included on the Biosafety Department's website (www.biosafety.gov.my) to invite the public to provide feedback.
Invitations to the public consultation will also be included in the Department of Biosafety's other social media platforms:
Information provided for Public Consultation
Information regarding the activities proposed by the applicant will be included in the Fact Sheet (in Malay and English) as a public announcement. Information provided includes:
a. Purpose and description of activities in the application
b. Description of how living organisms are modified
c. Characteristics of modified living organisms
d. Risk assessment to human health
e. Assessment of risks to the environment and biodiversity
f. Description of the emergency response plan
Involvement in Public Consultation
Any member of the public can make comments, views or ask questions about the information disclosed to the public in relation to an application. Before submitting comments, views or questions, one should examine the information provided about the application in the Fact Sheet.
Comments, views and inquiries about possible effects/risks on human health and safety and the environment that may be caused by such releases are greatly appreciated. Comments/views/questions submitted must be carefully prepared as they will be given the same emphasis as with an application by the National Biosafety Board (LBK). Although comments/views/questions are not based on science and instead focus on culture or other values, they still need to be prepared in the form of reasonable arguments.
The person sending comments/views/questions must state their full name, address and contact details so that the comments/views/questions sent are accepted by the Biosafety Department.
Written comments, views and inquiries should be sent to:
Director General
Department of Biosafety
Ministry of Natural Resources and Nature Sustainability
Level 4, Block F11, Complex F
Lebuh Perdana Timur, Precinct 1
Federal Government Administration Center
62000 Putrajaya, Malaysia
Email: dob@biosafety.gov.my
The time period for receiving public comments is for 30 days starting from the date of the first announcement.
Action taken after receiving comments, views and inquiries through Public Consultation
Any questions will be submitted to the applicant and feedback will be given within 7 days through the Biosecurity Department.
All comments/views received during the public consultation period will be collated and forwarded to the National Biosafety Board for consideration when making a decision.
