Nairobi: The National Biosafety Authority (NBA), which regulates GMOs in the country, has released a list of commercially approved GM plants, animals, microorganisms, and veterinary vaccines and their derived products. In a letter to government agencies operating at the entry and exit ports, dated 29th June 2026, NBA acting Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ann Karimi stated that the importation of any product from these GMOs would require clearance by the Authority in accordance with the provisions of the Biosafety Act.
According to Kenya News Agency, the letter was addressed to several key agencies, including Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Department of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Pest Control Products Board (PCPB), Directorate of Veterinary Services, and Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI). Dr. Karimi emphasized the global trade of these products and the need for officers at various entry and exit points to ensure clearance by NBA before release.
Dr. Karimi noted that NBA officers are stationed at these points to provide guidance on non-compliance issues. The Harmonized System Code, a globally standardized numerical system maintained by the World Customs Organization, is used to classify traded products, aiding customs authorities in identifying items accurately.
The Authority, as a state corporation under the Biosafety Act, CAP 320, is tasked with overseeing the transfer, handling, and use of GMOs to ensure the safety of human and animal health and environmental protection. It also serves as the National Focal Point to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
Among the approved GM products for cultivation is Bt cotton, grown in Kenya, Sudan, South Africa, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Nigeria, and Malawi. It is also cultivated in nations such as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, and India, among others. Bt cotton is approved for food, feed, ornamental, and processing in various other countries, including the USA, European Union, Japan, and Canada.
Additionally, GM maize has been approved for cultivation in South Africa, Nigeria, and Ethiopia.
