PUTRAJAYA: The Biosafety Department will introduce 10 standard operating procedures (SOPs) for its enforcement activities to detect living modified organism (LMO) products in the country.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the SOPs are expected to be ready in four months.
"The SOPs are currently being developed by the department to ensure that food safety in the country is protected. The department will also introduce sampling procedures for LMO products.
"The SOPs are also to empower the LMO monitoring and enforcement under the Biosafety Act 2007. Although the Act has existed for 10 years, there are no specific SOPs to take action against those who breach the Act.
"We will collaborate with other relevant ministries and agencies including the Health Ministry and Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry," he told the reporters after launching the National Bio-Safety Seminar, here, today.
Wan Junaidi, however, said he could not disclose some of the SOPs as the details are still being drafted by the Biosafety Department.
He said the ministry will also work with the Attorney-General's Chambers to ensure that the Act can be implemented effectively.
The Biosafety Act 2007 is a complementary to the implementation of National Policy on Biological Diversity 2016-2025 and National Biotechnology Policy 2005 to ensure that the modern biotechnology development will not cause any harm to health and biodiversity resources.
Under the Act, only LMO that has been approved can be released to the environment such as for agriculture, food and industry.
Meanwhile, the seminar was aimed at raising awareness among the stakeholders on the handling of LMO to protect the health of human, plants and animals; environment and biodiversity.