Latitude
9.148086N
Longitude
40.493059E
Overview
GM Crops Planted
Maize, Cotton
Hectarage
Area (ha) under GM Crops
Terms & Acronyms
Food, Feed or Processing (FFP)
Genetically Modified (GM)
Note
Commercial Release / General Approval cover Food/Feed Processing approval.
The approval decision on this site are only post 2015.
Biosafety Laws, Regulations
& Guidelines
Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)
Website: https://www.epa.gov.et/
Ethiopia’s biosafety framework is based primarily on Proclamation No. 655/2009, amended by Proclamation No. 896/2015, establishing a precautionary, science based regime governing contained use, environmental release, import, export, and transit of GMOs. The law mandates risk assessment, risk management, and public participation, with six implementing directives addressing application procedures, assessment, management, transportation, storage, and containment. Institutional oversight is provided by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). Under EPA, a National Biosafety Advisory Committee (NBAC), established by the National Bio-safety Advisory Committee Establishment Council of Ministers Regulation No. 411/2017, conducts risk assessment and provides scientific advice and technical assistance to government and the commission. Other Directives established to support the implementation of the Biosafety Proclamation are the Directive to Determine the Requirements for the Transport and Storage of Modified Organisms No.7/2018, the Directive Issued to Establish Procedures for the Management of Risks from any Transaction Involving Modified Organisms No.6/2018, the Directive on Risk Assessment Parameters for Modified Organisms No.5/ 2018, and the Directive to Determine Major Contents of Application for Special Permit for the Contained Use of Modified Organisms in Research or Teaching No.4/2018.
Genetically Modified (GM) Crops Approvals in Ethiopia
and the Field Trials approvals for each crop. The approval’s decisions reported on this site only go back to 2015.
Maize
NO FFP Only Approvals
| Event Code | Trade Name | Traits | Developer | Date of Approval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEMA/TELA Maize | Insect resistant, drought tolerant | KALRO/CIMMYT/AATF | 2022-04-13 |
Field trial data not yet recorded for this entry
Cotton
NO FFP Only Approvals
| Event Code | Trade Name | Traits | Developer | Date of Approval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bt Cotton | Insect resistance | JK Agri Genetics Ltd | 2018-05-24 |
Field trial data not yet recorded for this entry
Importation Regulatory Snapshot for
GM Food, Feed, or for Processing
Application Process for GM FFP
Import Permit
With respect to GM for food feed and processing the Biosafety Proclamation provides that:
- Ethiopia allows importation of GM food or feed upon authorization.
- Directive No.07/2018 refers to a transport authorization permit to be obtained from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change or from a designated Competent Authority.
- The scope of this Directive applies to the transportation or movement of any regulated modified organisms via land, air or any other means from one place to another or for storage.
- It is also a requirement that GMOs imported or exported shall also be accompanied by a transport authorization permit.
- The Ministry may, upon the receipt of an application for an extension of commercial release, decide whether to extend the validity period of an advance informed agreement or to order the revision or the doing of the risk assessment.
- Any applicant intending to obtain an advance informed agreement shall comply with the requirements set in the regulations and directives issued.
- Any GM food/feed that contains stacked event(s) is considered as a new product even if all single events that are stacked have already been approved.
Biosafety Laws, Regulations & Guidelines
Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)
Website: https://www.epa.gov.et/
Ethiopia’s biosafety framework is based primarily on Proclamation No. 655/2009, amended by Proclamation No. 896/2015, establishing a precautionary, science based regime governing contained use, environmental release, import, export, and transit of GMOs. The law mandates risk assessment, risk management, and public participation, with six implementing directives addressing application procedures, assessment, management, transportation, storage, and containment. Institutional oversight is provided by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). Under EPA, a National Biosafety Advisory Committee (NBAC), established by the National Bio-safety Advisory Committee Establishment Council of Ministers Regulation No. 411/2017, conducts risk assessment and provides scientific advice and technical assistance to government and the commission. Other Directives established to support the implementation of the Biosafety Proclamation are the Directive to Determine the Requirements for the Transport and Storage of Modified Organisms No.7/2018, the Directive Issued to Establish Procedures for the Management of Risks from any Transaction Involving Modified Organisms No.6/2018, the Directive on Risk Assessment Parameters for Modified Organisms No.5/ 2018, and the Directive to Determine Major Contents of Application for Special Permit for the Contained Use of Modified Organisms in Research or Teaching No.4/2018.
Navigate & Discover Everything About GMOs
Langauge
Yes
Does the country plant GM crops?
2009
Since
No. of GM Crops Species
