Tanzania Report, Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania - ILEAP

It was further noted that initiatives for the diversification of the agricultural sector should beconsidered as a matter of priority and one that should not await the outcome of the ongoingnegotiations. Tanzania, as an agricultural economy can benefit tremendously fromagricultural market access and even non-agricultural market access (agro-processing) subjectto prioritizing initiatives for capacity building on product and market diversification based onemerging market access opportunities including anticipated changing tariffsThe nation can use current goodwill inherent in trade related (TA) technical assistancetowards this end. However the initiative should not be left to donor initiatives alone butshould be supported by pro-active allocation of domestic resources with donor resourcesplaying a supplementary role.(c)TRIPSi. What measures can Tanzania undertake to benefit from the compulsory licensingarrangements under TRIPS with respect to ensuring access to cheap and affordable genericmedicines for the poor in respect of epidemic diseases;ii.What are the facts behind GMOs (genetically modified organisms), what are the risksinvolved and is the Government taking any steps to protect the people from such risks? Whatis the Government policy on GMOs? What is the official position regarding the adoption ofprecautionary principles such as those of the EU against bio-technological products from theUS.In response to this question, the representative from TPRI responded that the Government hasbeen working on GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) issues for almost 3 years and aNational Biotechnology Committee (NBAC) established and located at the Commission forScience and Technology. The Government has adopted the bio-safety regulations on LivingModified Organisms (LMOs) and GMOs. A draft Policy and Bio-safety Regulations are nowbeing considered within three ministries: the Vice President’s Office, the Ministry of HigherEducation, Science and Technology; and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security with aview to producing a Government position paper that will be the basis of seeking a formalgovernment decision expected to be accomplished in the course of 2004. In this regard,participants were further informed that:• TPRI is leading an initiative on awareness creation involving seminars to informstakeholders and train people in horticulture, floriculture and seed industry andtraining the private sector about the benefits as well as the risks of GMOs. This is anissue which has tremendous benefits as well, not only risks;• It is planned to hold a national seminar for Parliamentarians in November 2003 tosensitize political leaders on the issues involved. This will be the beginning of awider group of seminars for various stakeholder groups;• Risks or problems related to GMOs include the following:• risks of escape of the genes (gene-flows) that can change the morphology,physiology and other traits of plants with serious repercussions;• risks related to development of resistance by target insects to plant producingtoxins leading to new problems;• Health risks by consumer – genes in the plant can intermingle with genes in thestomach (bacterial genes), spread the genes to the bacteria that causes diseasesand posing new dangers related to resistance to antibiotics prescribed bydoctors;• Risks on the Intellectual Property Rights in terms of royalties for ownership ofgenes as patents take over preceding hereditary ownership of seeds and plants• Ethical problems such as those relating to intercloning of human organs in acow’s ovary and improvement of human intelligence in the embryos; and"Deliberations on WTO Pre-Cancun Sensatization Workshop" 25