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Whilst South Africa has developed genetic engineering techniques and capacity over the last twenty years, this technology is only now being applied or commercialised . Few local products have been developed even though approximately R100 million is spent on biotechnology research and development annually. Over 600 biotechnology research projects exist at present in the following sectors/areas:

• Medical and pharmaceutical
• Agricultural/plant
• Environment
• Food and beverage
• Chemical
• Veterinary
• Bio-safety

In South Africa, approximately 55 companies are involved in biotechnology and locally commercialised products are mostly in the plant and medical sectors. The number of field trials for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has increased rapidly from 12 in 1995, to 45 in 1998.

Examples of biotechnology products being developed locally are:

• Fungal resistant strawberries, to help farmers and consumers
• Insect resistant sugar cane , to prevent Eldana damage in sugar cane fields
• Virus resistant potatoes, to offer the first control measure for agrochemical-tolerant viruses
• Fungal resistant maize and sorghum

In 1998 genetically modified agricultural crops were grown in South Africa under a general release permit. These first genetically enhanced crops are cotton and maize, which contain new genes from bacteria. These genes give them protection against their major insect pests.

There are at present, no genetically modified fresh products available in South Africa. The long-life tomatoes that can be bought, have been genetically enhanced by normal breeding programmes. However, imported processed foods may derive from genetically modified raw materials such as soya, maize, canola and potatoes. Genetically modified pharmaceutical products and vaccines have been available in South Africa for some time e.g. Human insulin, human growth hormone, and vaccines.

Regulation of Genetic Modification in South Africa

The GMO Act of 1997, which was implemented in 1999, controls the import of live genetically modified products and protects the consumer as well as the environment through its well-laid out regulations. This Act does not cover ethical issues such as human cloning, but covers most other products of modern genetic modification technology.

The Act creates the following biosafety structures:

1. The Executive Council. This is an independent decision-making body that will make decisions on all applications for work with GMOs. The EC is made up of representatives from 6 government departments and will take into account issues such as socio-economics, trade, labour and safety to humans and the environment when making their decisions.
2. A Scientific Advisory Committee. This body of scientists will review the human and environmental safety of GMOs and advise the EC of their findings.
3. Registrar and Inspectorate. The Registrar will administer the GMO Act on behalf of the Minster of Agriculture, will issue permits at the request of the EC and will use the Inspectorate to monitor and inspect local work with GMOs.

The Act makes provision for public notification of GMO work and there is an appeal process against decisions taken by the EC.

The safety of products from GMOs is covered by existing legislation in the Depts. of Agriculture and Health.

Some Current Consumer Concerns about Biotechnology

A number of concerns have been raised about biotechnology and these are carefully considered by biosafety review teams for each GMO application. A brief summary of three current concerns is as follows:

Dr Pusztai's toxic potatoes. Preliminary research into the toxicity of plant toxin genes cloned into potatoes caused a major stir in the UK in 1998. A May 1999 review of the results by the UK Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) concluded "the results from Dr Pusztai's work have been severely distorted by the recent media campaign in an unwarranted attempt to cast doubt on the safety of GM foods in general". Dr Putsztai's updated work is to be published in a well-known scientific journal to enable a broad peer review of his findings.

BT crops affect Monarch butterflies. Laboratory studies show that Bt protein in maize pollen affects the growth and survival of Monarch butterflies under forced feeding regimes. This is not surprising, as butterflies are part of the group of insects targeted by this insecticide. However, Monarch butterflies don't feed on maize in nature. They will only eat this protein if pollen blows onto milkweeds around maize fields. Regulators worldwide will closely monitor how this data transmits to field conditions. In South Africa, applicants for commercialisation have to indicate what effect an insecticide crop has on non-target insects. The environmental and human health impact of the two locally approved Bt crops has been significantly better than the use of broad-spectrum insecticide sprays, which kill all insects.

Brazil nut gene - the truth. A Brazil nut protein was cloned into plants to improve the protein content of staple foods. However, the protein was recognised as the major allergen from these nuts and research with the gene did not continue. No GM soya containing a Brazil nut gene has ever been approved for commercialization and no-one has ever died from eating GM soya that contains a brazil nut protein. (Nordlee et al., 1996, New England J Medicine, 334(11):688-692.)