Public Health Minister Beth Mugo says the decision was taken from genuine concern for Kenyans' health.
The move by the Minister follows a directive by the ministry for the GMOs to be banned until the necessary information about its impact on public health was verified.
The Ministry was tasked by the cabinet about two weeks ago to provide scientific proof over the safety of GMOs.
Speaking at a press briefing at Afya House, the Minister said that the ban on importation of GMOs remains until conclusive studies are completed.
Mugo said that government agencies have been instructed to immediately comply with this directive and enforce the ban on importation of all GMO foods.
‘I am calling upon all stakeholders and government regulators involved in importation of GMO foods to take note of this directive that no importation of GMO foods will be allowed into the country until further advice by the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation,’ said the Minister.
The Minister said that the protection of the consumer and assurance to the public on the safety of food is extremely important in making decisions about food importation, distribution and consumption.
The Minister added that some countries have banned the importation of GMOs
On the 8th of this month, in a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Mwai Kibaki, the cabinet directed the Public Health Minister to ban the importation of GMOs until such a time that the country will certify that they have no negative impact on the health of the people
The Cabinet in a statement issued by PPS noted that there is no sufficient information about on the dangers of such foods and ordered that the ban will stay until when there is sufficient information, data and knowledge indicating that they are not dangerous to the public health.
By Maureen Murimi
