Burkina Faso’s amended national biosafety law was passed by parliament in December 2012 and signed by the President in February 2013 after two years of revision and discussion. Texts on derived products and sanction with penalty for imprisonment have been removed. The new law defines damage, responsibility, and repair for each actor of the chain involved for genetically engineered (GE) products.
Bt cotton production continues to grow with the support of the government with fifty percent of the area planted in MY 2012/13. Bt Cowpea and biofortified sorghum could be the next GE crop in Burkina Faso. The regional biosafety framework of the WAEMU and ECOWAS is still in progress and a steering committee should finalize it by the end of the 2013. Monsanto plans to open a new office in Ouagadougou to cover West Africa in September 2013.
Section I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The President of Burkina Faso signed the amended biosafety law in February 2013 after parliament passed the bill in December 2012. The law includes major suggestions from stakeholders and industry.
Text on derived products and enforcement for imprisonment were removed from this new legislation.However, the law determines responsibilities and repairs for all actors involved in the genetically engineered (GE) product.
The Government of Burkina Faso (GOBF) continues to support Bt cotton production. Bt cotton reached fifty percent of the area planted in MY 2012/13(Aug 2012/Jul 2013). Cotton companies forecast a 20 percent increase for MY 2013/14
The next GE crops in Burkina Faso could be Bt cowpea and biofortified sorghum. The Burkinabe National Institute of Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA) conducted the second year of Bt cowpea Confined Field Trials (CFTs). Research stopped due to lack of funding. INERA is planning a new research project on biofortifed sorghum.
