National Biosafety Policy for Jamaica.

National Biosafety Policy is a national policy with a cross-sectoral approach. The goals of this Policy are the management of the risks to human health, agriculture and biodiversity from the development, transboundary movement, handling and use of living modified organisms, and the development of a national modern biotechnology sector in a safe and regulatory environment.
This policy lays down strategies for the safe development and utilization of modern biotechnology, resulting in minimal risks to human health and biodiversity while providing benefits to health, agriculture and industry. The effective regulation of the import and export of living modified organisms will be ensured in keeping with the relevant international rules and standards as well as the principles of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety by applying its provisions related to notification procedures; identification, handling, packaging and transport; decision-making procedures and review of decisions; unintentional and illegal transboundary movements; and emergency measures. Measures will be taken to mitigate and manage effectively the possible adverse effects of living modified organisms on human health, biodiversity and ecosystems. The management of risks is related not only to the external trade and transboundary movement of living modified organisms, but to activities within the local biotechnology industry. Modern biotechnology will be developed and used at the national level to provide financial benefits to the relevant sectors taking into account issues of biosafety. Genetically modified technologies will be applied to crops has the potential to increase agricultural productivity through the development of disease- and pest-resistant crops and drought-tolerant crops; increase shelf life; increase nutritional value; reduce use of pesticides providing environmental and economic benefits; and minimize human exposure to pesticides. Standards will be established for the safe handling, storage, transport and use of living modified organisms, including packaging, labelling, documentation, disposal and contingency procedures, in keeping with international labelling standards. Protocols for the safe handling, transport, packaging, storage, identification and use of living modified organisms will also be developed. Public awareness and participation in policy implementation and decision-making will be promoted and information sharing on biosafety will be increased to facilitate effective implementation of the national biosafety regime. Special public education and awareness programmes will be developed and implemented taking into account the specific needs of vulnerable groups including, low-income households, persons with low literacy levels and the farming community. Institutional capacity building will be enhanced to implement and monitor a national framework for biosafety.
The Ministries responsible for the environment and agriculture shall evaluate the implementation of this policy periodically and revise as necessary to take into account new developments regarding modern biotechnology. Moreover, the Ministry with responsibility for the Environment will establish a National Biosafety Committee which will be responsible for the reviewing of applications for the importation of living modified organisms, safe handling, containment and disposal of living modified organisms, reviewing field research reports involving living modified organisms, assisting with developing and reviewing guidelines and standards and material for public education.