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Towards a smart biosafety regulation: The case of Kenya

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 October 2009

Ann Kingiri  and
Seife Ayele
Ann Kingiri
Affiliation:
Innogen ESRC Centre, Development Policy and Practice, Technology Faculty, The Open University, Walton Hall, MK7 6AA, UK
Seife Ayele
Affiliation:
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O. Box 30709-00100, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

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It is emerging that benefits of new innovations in agricultural biotechnology may not be realised without appropriate biosafety regulatory mechanisms. The Kenyan regulatory experiences related to regulation of genetically engineered (GE) agricultural activities are explored to provide some basis for defining the challenges involved in biosafety regulation. The various shortcomings in the way the Kenyan biosafety process has been implemented are consistent with the way regulatory systems have been evolving in Africa. The proposed adoption of a “smart regulation” provides the basis for a learning process through which subsequent biotechnology policy initiatives can be improved.

Keywords

agricultural biotechnologybiosafetysmart regulationKenya
Type
Research Article
Information
Environmental Biosafety Research , Volume 8 , Issue 3 , July 2009 , pp. 133 - 139
Copyright
© ISBR, EDP Sciences, 2009

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