The National Biosafety Authority has published a set of new fees for various services rendered to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) food traders set for implementation.
In a notice issued on Tuesday, September 10, the authority announced that the implementation of the new fees comes after a public participation exercise carried out from January 17 to February 7.
Among the services affected include Genetically modified organisms’ (GMO) applications which the authority notes will attract a fee of Ksh170,00 for consideration of an application for approval of a Confined Field Trial (CFT).
The Application fee of Ksh. 170,000 will cover the costs related to inspection and approval of one Facility/site, with clients expected to part with an additional Ksh60,000 for each additional facility.
Upon expiry of the CFT approval (after five years), the traders will be required to pay Ksh170,000 for renewal.
At the same time, clients applying for approval of environmental release and placing into the market of GMOs will have to pay Ksh850,000 which is due for expiry after 10 years.
Application for Transit of GMOs and/or derived products through Kenya will attract a fee of Ksh40,000 per consignment (cargo weighing up to 40 tonnes), while change or modification of research protocol where there is need for additional risk assessment will attract Ksh170,000. Other notable fees to be charged on various services include:
New Biosafety Fees
| Service | Fees (In Ksh) |
| Change or modification of research protocol where there is need for additional risk assessment | 170,000 |
| Change or modification of research protocol where there is no need for
additional risk assessment |
30,000 |
| Early Consultation for Genome Editing Applications (Re- search) | 170,000 |
| Early Consultation for Genome Editing Applications (Commercial purposes) | 850,000 |
| Consideration of Application for Low Level Presence (LLP) situations – for declared GM Events (Analysis report from an accredited laboratory provided by client (GM content within set thresholds of LLP). | 20,000 (per consignment) |
| Consideration of Application for Low Level Presence (LLP) situations– for un-declared GM Events at low level or where the test results are not from an accredited | 50,000 (per consignment) |
| Service | Fees (In Ksh) |
| Applicant to proof non-GMO Status of product (Annual fees for product traceability; Small sized firms (Firms with annual Turnover of less than Ksh 1 Million) | 10,00 per firm or entity |
| Issuance of GMO-Free Certificates (processing fee) | 5,500 per consignment |
| Issuance of ‘No Objection Letters (Processing fee) | 5,000 per consignment |
| Registration fee for new Institutional Biosafety Commit- tees (IBC) | 20,000 |
| Annual Renewal fees after Registration in IBC | 10,000 |
| Biosafety Training of Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBC) Members | 100,000 |
| Inspection fees of new GMO containment/CFT facilities
|
50,000 plus transport at AA Rates per KM |
| Inspection of Records, GMO Register and Applications (Facilitation costs) | 10,000 |
New regulations
The National Biosafety Act 2009 requires the Authority- whose main role is to supervise and exercise control over the transfer, handling and use of GMOs, to prescribe fees for various services in the food sector.
Also Read: Win for Ruto as Court Allows GMO Maize in the Market
In January 2024 when the notice for public participation was issued, the Biosafety Authority said the move to revise fees was due rise in the cost of doing business.
As per the Authority, the initial charges were unsustainable since the charges applied to all services, irrespective of the quantity of GM products.
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