Ethiopian National Biosafety Advisory Committee
The National Biosafety Advisory Committee (NBAC) is a technical committee composed of a range of specialists. The main function of the NBAC is to conduct risk assessment and to provide scientific advice and technical assistance to government and the commission. The committee has 13 members and emanated from different institutions directly or indirectly dealing with issues of biosafety and Biotechnology.
Powers and Duties of the Committee
Members of the Committee
The Committee shall, upon request by the Commissioner, or by the request of other ministries through the Commission have the powers and duties to advise the Government on:
1/transactions of genetically modified organisms;
2/the issues of national policies and laws of bio-safety;
3/identifying effective methods to create public awareness regarding transactions of genetically modified organisms;
4/ on any other matters related to bio-safety
The Committee members, including the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson, shall be nomination by the Commission and be assigned by the Government; and their numbers shall be determined as appropriate. The Committee shall be comprised of members with relevant qualification, experience and organizational representations from government bodies, higher education institutions, civil societies and non-governmental institutions.
Powers and Duties of the Chairperson
The Chairperson of the Committee shall have the following powers and duties:
1/preside and lead the activities of the committee;
2/cause the execution of powers and duties of this Regulation;
3/call regular and extraordinary meetings
Meetings of the Committee
Terms of Committee members
Powers and Duties of the Secretariat
1/The Committee shall hold its regular meeting at least four times a year.
2/Without prejudice the committee may have extraordinary meeting any time upon the call of the Chairperson.
3/There shall be a quorum where more than two third of the members of the Committee are present at a meeting.
4/The Committee shall present its recommendation in consensus; provided, however, if consensus is not reached, the majority recommendation together with the dissenting opinion shall be sent to the Commissioner.
1/The term of office of the Committee members shall be three years.
2/The Commissioner may, in consultation with appropriate body, assign a member of committee for one additional term.
The Secretariat of the National Bio-safety Advisory Committee shall be organized under the Commission.
The Secretariat shall:
1/organize and submit any bio-safety requests made to the committee;
2/submit the recommendation of the Committee to the Commissioner;
3/prepare and submit performance report of the Committee to the Commissioner.
