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On July 26, 2016, Côte d’Ivoire enacted its national Biosafety Law No. 2016-553. This law establishes the groundwork for managing genetically engineered (GE) products.

FAS Accra observes Ghana making appreciable advancements in the field of plant biotechnology (biotech). The country is expanding its agricultural biotech crops developmental and production capabilities.

Ghana continues to demonstrate its conviction that proven science-based advanced technologies remain viable options in the global efforts to achieve food security in the face of various production constraints like climate change.

Ghana’s National Biosafety Authority (NBA) on Friday September 15, 2023, approved the Bt cowpea event 245F (Cry2Ab) for environmental release.

The push for the move toward biotechnology in Cote d'Ivoire began in June of 2015, when the government of Cote d'Ivoire (GOCI) adopted and ratified the Cartagena Protocol.

Ghana’s National Biosafety Authority has eventually given the green light for the environmental release and placement on the market of the pod borer resistant (PBR) or Bt. Cowpea.

On July 26, 2016, Cote d’Ivoire announced the implementation of the national biosafety law after its adoption by parliament. Although the country is in the early stages of adopting agricultural biotechnology, its biosafety law is the foundation on which the country will manage the approval processes, risk management, containment, and labelling for genetically engineered (GE) products developed domestically or by a third country.

Though momentum towards environmental release of the Bt cowpea seems to have slowed down, approval remains inevitable. Dossier on Nitrogen Use Efficient (NUE) rice is ready for submission.

While still in the early stages for adopting genetically engineered products, the Government of Cote d’Ivoire is putting systems in place to eventually allow GE products onto the market.

Submission of the application for environmental release of Ghana’s first genetically engineered (GE) product, Bt cowpea, to the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) for approval is still pending...

The application for commercial release of Ghana’s first genetically engineered (GE) product - Bt cowpea is now ready to be submitted to the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) for approval....

Despite not meeting the reviewed target of commercializing its first genetically engineered (GE) product (Bt cowpea) a year ahead of schedule in 2018, Ghana remains poised to achieve this goal....