A cross section of residents in Bong and Margibi Counties want the Government to take precautionary stance in ensuring that Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are not brought into Liberia under dubious circumstances. 

The residents were quoted as saying that although there are no scientific proofs to determine whether there are GM Crops in Liberia, nevertheless, they were of the view that the long and porous borders and inadequate quarantine mechanisms at the various entry points as well as the presence of rotten rice, meat and poultry parts on the Liberian market were critical issues for concern. 

The residents, which comprised consumer groups, members of the scientific community, government officials, marketers, youth groups and NGOs spoke over the weekend in the provincial towns of Kakata and Salala during a two-day workshop on Public Awareness and Participation to ensure transparency and confidence on key decisions relating to Biosafety and Modern Biotechnology. 

In a release Monday, the participants pointed out that in view of the negative and positive aspects of GMOs, any NGO, donor, or supplier wishing to bring Genetically Modified Crops into Liberia should first notify the Government so that the necessary mechanisms can be put in place to advert or reduce the potential risk to human health and the environment. 

According to the release, the workshop brought together more that 120 participants and made significant review of the National Biosafety Framework (NBF), its prospects and challenges as well as the role of public awareness and participation in the development process of the National Biosafety Framework, a technical and legal document being drafted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with UNEP/GEF support to regulated GMOs. 

The workshop participants, the release said, assured the organizers of their commitment to contribute meaningfully in the development of the National Biosafety Framework provided the necessary mechanisms are put into place in compliance with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. 

In January 2002, the Government of Liberia acceded to the Cartagena Protocol of Biosafety, to ensure an adequate level of protection in the field of the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity taking into account risks to human health and specifically focusing on Transboundary movements. 

The Protocol offers a number of tools for promoting Biosafety, which include, Advanced Informed Agreement (AIA), Biosafety Clearing House (BCH), Risk Assessment and Risk Management, Capacity Building and Public Awareness. 

The workshop was sponsored by the Global Environment Facility/United Nations Environment Programme (GEF/UNEP), and implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia.