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
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”
Mr. Basil Been – Chairman
|
Dr. Elaine Fisher – Immediate Past Chair
|
Mrs. Merline Bardowell
Email: mbardowell@opm.gov.jm ncst@opm.gov.jm |
Ms. Yvette Strong Email:ystrong@nepa.gov.jm nchambers@nepa.gov.jm |
Dr. Wayne McLaughlin Email: wayne.mclaughlin@uwimona.edu.jm
|
Dr. Marcia Blair
Email: mblair@opm.gov.jm ncst@opm.gov.jm |
Mrs. Claudette Hill
|
Mrs. Princess Thomas-Osbourne
|
Miss Leonie Barnaby
|
Ms. Stacy-Ann Robinson |
Ms. Angella Smith |
Dr. Osbil Watson
|
Mrs. Paulette Terrylonge |
Mr. Hugh Blackwood |
Mrs. Tracy Commock |
Mr. Sean Townsend |
Mrs. Sheila Harvey Email:syharvey@moa.gov.jm/ppq@moa.gov.jm |
Dr. Ainsley Archer
|
Ms. Symone Betton |
Dr. Lisa MyersBodles Research Station
bodlesresearch@moa.gov.jm/ ppu@moa.gov.jm |