What is the National Biosafety Committee (NBC)?

• The NBC, a committee of the National Commission on Science and Technology has the responsibility of monitoring the safe use and handling of LMOs and providing advice on the potential impact of releases of LMOs on human health and the environment.  The terms of reference are as follows:

• To establish and review as necessary, guidelines for physical and biological containment and control procedure appropriate to the level of assessed risk involved in relevant research development and application activities; 

• To review relevant proposals and make recommendations regarding whether activities may proceed; 

• To consult with relevant government agencies and other organizations as necessary; 

• To advise on personal training with regard to safety procedures as necessary;

• To establish contact and maintain liaison with other monitoring bodies in other countries, and with international organizations, as appropriate, and to participate in activities relating to the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety;

• To report to the responsible government authorities any breaches of guidelines and other relevant matters; 

• To collect and disseminate relevant information and to develop a mechanism for continuous public education on biosafety;

• To create a database of experiences in the release of LMOs in the country;

• To collect information on national infrastructure to facilitate LMO testing and to provide necessary recommendations; and

• To collaborate national activities on existing biosafety/food safety committees 

• The NBC of Jamaica is legislated through the Plants (Importation) Control Regulations 1997, under the Plants (Quarantine) Act. The Regulations which deal only with importation of LMOs (for experimental use only) state that: 
• Section 11       1. “A person who wishes to import a plant, seed, cutting or slip into the island shall apply to the National Biosafety Committee for permission to do so and thereafter upon its approval such application shall be submitted by the Committee to the Plant Quarantine Division of the Ministry responsible for agriculture for the grant of a permit”
•     2. “The National Biosafety Committee shall, in determining whether to grant approval of the application, consider the applicant’s ability to enforce adequate procedure and safeguards to ensure that no contamination by or release of the plant, seed, cutting or slip which is detrimental to the health or safety of any human, animal or living organisms will occur at the port of entry or otherwise in the island”

 

The National Biosafety Committee
September 2008 Listing

Mr. Basil Been – Chairman Coconut Industry Board 18 Waterloo Road Kingston 10 Tel: 92-61770 Fax: 968-1360 Email: cocindbrd@cwjamaica.com	Dr. Elaine Fisher – Immediate Past Chair 8 York Castle Avenue Kingston 6 Tel: 970-4166 Fax: 702-2932 Email:cfishjam@yahoo.com
Mrs. Merline Bardowell National Commission on Science and Technology Office of the Prime Minister 1 Devon Road Kingston 10 Tel:  92-79941-3/960-8345 Fax: 960-9407 Email: mbardowell@opm.gov.jm ncst@opm.gov.jm	Ms. Yvette Strong National Environment & Planning Agency (NEPA) 10 Caledonia Avenue Kingston 5 Tel:  754-7543/7570 Fax: 754-7595 Email:ystrong@nepa.gov.jm nchambers@nepa.gov.jm
Dr. Wayne McLaughlin Biotechnology Centre UWI, Mona Kingston 7 Tel: 935-8793 Fax: 977-3331 Email: wayne.mclaughlin@uwimona.edu.jm	Dr. Marcia Blair National Commission on Science and Technology Office of the Prime Minister 1 Devon Road Kingston 10 Tel:  92-79941-3/960-8345 Fax:  960-9407 Email: mblair@opm.gov.jm ncst@opm.gov.jm
Mrs. Claudette Hill Jamaica Customs Department Kingston 15 Tel: 948-5151 Fax: 967-0140/3528 Email: claudette.hill@jacustoms.gov.jm  public.relations@jacustoms.gov.jm	Mrs. Princess Thomas-Osbourne Standards & Regulations Ministry of Health 2-4 King Street Kingston Tel: 967-1100/948-4106 (strt. line) Fax: 967-1629 Email: osbournep@moh.gov.jm
Miss Leonie Barnaby Office of the Prime Minister 16 Half Way Tree Road Kingston 5 Tel: 920-9117/929-2792 Fax: 92-97349 Email:emdmle@yahoo.com	Ms. Stacy-Ann Robinson Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade 21 Dominica Drive Kingston 5 Tel: 960-4917/92-93260 (str. line) Fax: 92-96733 Email: ftmfaja@cwjamaica.com
Ms. Angella Smith Consumer Affairs Commission 1b Holborn Road Kingston 5 Tel: 92-61650-2 Fax: 968-8729 Email:res_as@consumeraffairsjamaica.gov.jm cacjam@infochan.com	Dr. Osbil Watson Veterinary Services Ministry of Agriculture Hope Gardens Kingston 6 Tel: 977-2492/977-2489/927-0924 Fax: 977-0885 Email:vsd@moa.gov.jm
Mrs. Paulette Terrylonge Bureau of Standards Jamaica 6 Winchester Road Kingston 10 Tel: 92-63140-5 Fax: 92-94736 Email: pterrelonge@bsj.org.jm	Mr. Hugh Blackwood Jamaica Agriculture Society 67 Church Street Kingston Tel: 948-3436/7 Fax: 967-7419 Email: hblack3@hotmail.com
Mrs. Tracy Commock Institute of Jamaica 10-16 East Street Kingston Tel: 922-0620-6 Fax: 922-1147 Email: nhd@instituteofjamaica.org.jm	Mr. Sean Townsend Focal Point – Biosafety Clearing House Institute of Jamaica 10-16 East Street Kingston Tel: 922-0620-6 Fax: 922-1147 Email: chm.nhd@cwjamaica.com
Mrs. Sheila Harvey Ministry of Agriculture Hope Gardens              Kingston 6 Tel:  977-0637/6992 Fax: 977-6401/0637 Email:syharvey@moa.gov.jm/ ppq@moa.gov.jm	Dr. Ainsley Archer Research & Development Ministry of Agriculture Hope Gardens Kingston 6 Tel: 983-2106 Fax: 983-2822 Email: bodlesresearch@moa.gov.jm
Ms. Symone Betton Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade 21 Dominica Drive Kingston 5 Tel: 960-4917/92-93260 (str. line) Fax: 92-96733 Email:ftmfaja@cwjamaica.com	Dr. Lisa Myers Bodles Research Station Old Harbour St. Catherine Tel: 983-2843 Fax: 983-2822        Email: lrsmyers@gmail.com bodlesresearch@moa.gov.jm/ ppu@moa.gov.jm