EFEPA Allocates 180K for Public Education

By Gubae Gundarta

The Ethiopian Federal Environmental Protection Authority has set aside 180,000 USD in order to give the public a grounding in the consumption and usage of genetically modified organisms.

“We will make use of the mass media such radio and television to raise public awareness on this score. Because this should be the choice of the generations to come,” says Belete Geda, Director of Knowledge and Education Directorate of the EFPA and Safe Life Project Coordinator.

Asked to explain the expectations out of the project Belete explained Safe Life Proclamation states that the implementing offices include Revenue and Customs Authority, Quality and Standards Authority as well as the Police force. Adding, he said the duties of his office include facilitating all the activities related to the effecting of what is contained in the proclamation, ranging from organizing and conducting trainings to providing the equipments with which imported genetically modified organisms and their products would be inspected.

In Belete’s words, the inspection of such products would not be that difficult for they are easily identifiable with a color-altering additive.

As stated in the country’s constitution, articles 41 and 92, the right to environmental safety embodies the welfare of people and domestic animals, as well as socio-economic well-being and protection from spin-off effects and risks of genetic engineering. This necessitated the decree of the proclamation, previously mentioned on 9 September 2009.

NewsDire Staff Writer
Gubae Gundarta