1. GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS ACT
Role of the
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
in the
GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS ACT
(Act No. 15 of 1997)
April 2003

2. Advisory Committee Biosafety Structure Section 10 of the GMO Act
Appointment by Minister of Agriculture
Period not exceeding 5 years
Members - recommendation from the Executive Council
Remunerated
The act makes provision for the appointment of an Advisory Committee, Executive
Council, a Registrar and inspectors.

3. Advisory Committee Max. 10 persons
8- knowledgeable from applicable fields of science
2- from public sector with knowledge of ecological matters and GMO’s
Representation from all fields of the expertise involved with GMO’s - appointment of sub-committees (Section 11(2))
Review committee - 4 experts (1 chairperson)

4. Position of the Advisory Committee
Receives documentation from Registrar
Send recommendation to Registrar
Questions/concerns raised - Registrar to applicant
Response from applicant back to Registrar
Registrar sends response to Advisory Committee
Committee assesses new/additional information and sends final recommendation to Registrar

5. Functions of the AC Act as national advisory body on GMO activities
Advise the Minister, EC, other Ministries and appropriate bodies on matters concerning GMO’s
On the introduction, proposals for activities, contained use, importation and exportation of GMO’s
On proposed regulations and written guidelines
Liaise internationally w.r.t. biosafety
Invite written comments from experts

6. Functions of the AC (continue)
Safety assessments:
- Health: Environment:
Toxicity Living organisms
Pathogenicity Air, soil, water
Allergenicity Sustainability
Digestibility Biodiversity
Nutrition Stability
Unexpected products
Stability
The AC conducts a safety assessment of all proposed activities with GMO’s.
This safety assessment includes a health and environmental assessment
For the health safety assessment, the AC assesses the toxicity, pathogenicity,
allergenicity, digestibility, nutrition, if there are any unexpected products and the
stability of the GMO with regard to health issues.
Environmentally, the AC assesses the impact of the GMO on living organisms,
the air, soil, water, etc. the sustainability of the GMO in the environment, the effect
on the biodiversity and the stability in terms of its performance in the environment.
Remember: the AC only makes a recommendation to the Executive Council on
the safety of the GMO, but the AC does not take the decision on whether the
activity is safe to proceed. This is the prerogative of the Executive Council.

7. Functions of the AC (continue)
Recommendation report
No decision - only recommendation to Council for their assessment
Content:
Details of review committee
Summary of application
Procedures followed during assessment
Safety issues assessed
Non-safety issues assessed
Risk management
Recommendation

8. Conclusion National advisory body on GMO’s No decisions
Only recommendations
Primarily safety assessments