Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti, GMO ni njia ya kisayansi inayotumika katika kuzalisha mazao mbalimbali Duniani. Taarifa kutoka Shirika la Afya Duniani (WHO) zinaonesha kwamba, vyakula vitokanavyo na mazao ya GMO vilivyoko latika soko, havina madhara yoyote kwa watumiaji kwa kuwa vimethibitishwa na kupasishwa na vyombo vinavyosimamia matumizi salama ya GMO katika nchi husika.
Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti, wakati wa kuandaa
mfumo wa kusimamia matumizi salama ya Bioteknolojia (mwaka 2003 - 2005), kama ilivyokuwa kwa nchi nyingi za Afrika, Tanzania tulijiwekea kwa makusudi mazingira magumu (Precautionary Principle na Strict Liability) ili kudhibiti uingizaji na matumizi ya bidhaa zinazotokana na bioteknolojia ya uhandisi jeni (Genetic Engineering). Kanuni za strict liability zinafanya sheria iwabane wahusika katika mlolongo mzima wa kutafiti, kuendeleza, kusafisha na kutumia teknolojia hii, wahusike moja kwa moja na madhara ambayo yanaweza kutokea hata kutokana na makosa ya watu wengine au hata kama hayatakuwa yamesababishwa na teknolojia yenyewe.
Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti, kutokana na kuwepo kwa Kanuni ya Strict Liability kumezuia kwa kipindi kirefu maeneo ya kilimo hapa nchini. Tatizo hili limerudisha nyuma sana nchi yetu ikichukulia kwamba nchi mbalimbali zimekuwa zikipinga maendeleo kutokana na matumizi ya GMO.
Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti, kutokana na hali hii, naiomba Serikali ifute kipengele hiki cha strict liability ili nchi yetu iweze kuongeza uzalishaji wa mazao mbalimbali ya kilimo na hivyo kuzalisha kwa wingi na kujenga uchumi wetu.
Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti, sisi Tanzania tukiwa
tunasuasua, wenzetu wamekuwa wakiitumia teknolojia hii. Kwa sasa nguo nyingi tunazovaa zimetokana na mazao ya pamba yaliyozalishwa kwa teknolojia hii.
Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti, tunapozidi kuchelewa, Tanzania itajikuta inaagiza bidhaa nyingi hata mbegu za mazao kutoka nchi nyingine zinazotokana na teknolojia ya GMO. Sasa naiomba Serikali irekebishe kanuni hii kwa maslahi ya nchi yetu.
Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti, naomba kuunga mkono
hoja kwa kuzingatia marekebisho ya Kanuni hii.
Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti, naipongeza Serikali kwa kuleta Bajeti yake hapa Bungeni. Maoni yangu ni kufanyiwa marekebisho ya Kanuni ya Matumizi Salama ya Bioteknolojia (Environmental Management (Bio Safety) Regulations, 2009). Naambatisha maoni yangu ya taarifa nzima kuhusu GMO na mapendekezo ya marekebisho ya Kanuni husika.
Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti, Bioteknolojia ni taaluma ya kutumia michakato ya ki-baiolojia ya viumbe hai ili kutengeneza bidhaa au kupata huduma kwa matumizi mbalimbali. Bioteknolojia inaweza kuchangia katika kuleta maendeleo endelevu ya kiuchumi na kijamii katika Sekta za Afya, Kilimo, Viwanda na Mazingira hapa nchini. Katika Sekta ya Afya bioteknolojia inatumika kutengeneza dawa na chanjo mbalimbali; kutambua magonjwa mbalimbali na kutengeneza vyakula vyenye virutubisho vya kukabiliana na matatizo ya utapiamlo. Kwa upande wa mazingira, teknolojia hii inaweza kutumika kusafisha mazingira; kwa mfano, kwa kuondoa mabaki ya sumu zinazotokana na taka za viwandani na majumbani. Aidha, teknolojia hii inaweza kupunguza matumizi ya viuatilifu na hivyo kuchangia katika kutunza na kuhifadhi mazingira na afya za binadamu na mifugo.
Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti, matumizi ya taaluma hii katika Sekta ya Viwanda ni pamoja na kuzalisha bidhaa mbalimbali kama vile nishati mbadala (bio- gesi, biofueli), vyakula vya wanyama, madawa ya kusafishia (detergents), plastiki zinazoweza kuoza na vipodozi mbalimbali. Katika Sekta ya Kilimo matumizi ya bioteknolojia ni pamoja na:-
- Kuongeza tija kwa kuzalisha aina za mazao
yenye (a) kustahimili ukame, (b) kustahimili magonjwa, (c) ukinzani dhidi ya wadudu na viuamagugu, (d) virutubisho zaidi (e) sifa ya kukaa muda mrefu bila kuoza na kupoteza ladha, (f) upungufu wa sumu asilia kwa mfano kwenye tumbaku na mihogo;
- Kuwezesha kutambua na kutofautisha nasaba za mimea na wanyama kwa uhakika na ufanisi;
- Kuhifadhi nasaba za mimea na wanyama;
- Kuzalisha kwa wingi miche yenye kutoa mazao mengi na isiyokuwa na magonjwa kwa njia ya tishu;
- Kuhifadhi nasaba za mimea na wanyama; na
- Kuzalisha kwa wingi miche yenye kutoa mazao mengi na isiyokuwa na magonjwa kwa njia ya tishu.
Hata hivyo, wapinzani wa teknolojia hii wamekuwa na mashaka katika maeneo makuu yafuatayo; usalama wa chakula kwa binadamu na wanyama na athari hasi kwa mazingira, kiuchumi na biashara, kimaadili, mila na desturi.
Taarifa kutoka Mashirika mbalimbali ya Kimataifa zinaonesha kwamba hakuna madhara yoyote kwa binadamu, wanyama wala mazingira, ambayo yamewahi kutokea katika nchi zinazozalisha mazao ya GMO baada ya kuidhinishwa na vyombo husika. Kwa mfano, taarifa kutoka Shirika la Afya la Dunia (WHO) zinaonesha kwamba, vyakula vitokanavyo na mazao ya GMO vilivyoko katika soko havina madhara yoyote kwa watumiaji kwa kuwa vimethibitishwa na kupasishwa na vyombo vinavyosimamia matumizi salama ya GMOs katika nchi husika. Aidha, hakuna taarifa zozote kutoka nchi zinazozalisha mazao ya GMO zinazoonesha kuwa wananchi wake wamewahi kudhurika kiafya kutokana na mazao hayo.
Kwa kutambua umuhimu na mchango wa bioteknolojia, Serikali ilianza mchakato kuhakikisha Taifa linafaidika na uhawilishaji (technology transfer) na uendelezaji wa matumizi ya bioteknolojia hapa nchini kwa kufanya yafuatayo:-
- Iliridhia kujiunga na International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology - ICGEB) mwaka 2002;
- Iliunda Kamati ya Kitaifa ya Ushauri wa
Bioteknoloja (National Biotechnogy Advisoty Committee - NBAC) mwaka 2002;
- Iliridhia Itifaki ya Cartagena ya Mkataba wa
Bioanuai (Cartagena Photocol on Biosafety, CPB to the Convention on Biological Biodiversity, CBD) mwaka 2003. Madhumumi ya Itifaki hii ni kuhifadhi mazingira kwa kuzingatia usalama katika usafirishaji, "handling" na matumizi ya viumbe watokanao na bioteknolojia ya kisasa zinazoweza kuathiri bioanuai au afya ya binadamu;
- Iliunda mfumo wa Taifa wa Usimamizi wa
Matumizi Salama ya Bioteknolojia (National Biosafety Framework) mwaka 2005 kwa kuzingatia Sera ya Mazingira ya Mwaka 1997 na Sheria ya Mazingira ya
Mwaka 2004;
- Ilipitisha Mwongozo wa Matumizi Salama ya
Bioteknolojia (Biosafety Guidelines) wa mwaka 2005;
- Ilitengeneza Kanuni za Kusimamia Matumizi
Salama ya Bioteknolojia mwaka 2009;
- Iliunda Kamati ya Kitaifa ya Kusimamia
Matumizi Salama ya Bioteknolojia (National Biosafety
Committee) mwaka 2009;
- Ilipitisha Sheria ya Matumizi ya Vinasaba (The
Human DNA Regulation Act) mwaka 2009; na
- Ilipitisha Sera ya Taifa ya Bioteknolojia mwaka
2010 ambayo inatoa miongozo ya uhawilishaji na
uendelezaji wa matumizi ya bioteknolojia hapa nchini.
Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti, wakati wa kuandaa
Mfumo wa Kusimamia Matumizi Salama ya Bioteknolojia (mwaka 2003 - 2005), kama ilivyokuwa kwa nchi nyingi za Afrika, Tanzania tulijiwekea kwa makusudi mazingira magumu (precautionary principle na strict liability) ili kudhibiti uingizaji na matumizi ya bidhaa zitokanazo na bioteknolojia ya uhandisi jeni (genetic engineering). Kanuni za strict liability zinaifanya sheria iwabane wahusika katika mlolongo mzima wa kutafiti, kuendeleza, kusafisha na kutumia teknolojia hii, wahusike moja kwa moja na madhara ambayo yanaweza kutokea hata kutokana na makosa ya watu wengine au hata kama hayatakuwa yamesababishwa na teknolojia yenyewe. Sababu ya msingi ya kuweka mazingira hayo magumu wakati huo ilitokana na kutokuwa na uwezo na utaalamu wa kutosha wa kufanya tathmini na udhibiti madhara (risk assessment and risk management).
Wizara ya Kilimo Chakula na Ushirika imekuwa mstari wa mbele katika kuendeleza matumizi ya bioteknolojia ya uhandisi wa jeni katika Sekta ya Kilimo hapa nchini kama ifuatavyo:-
(1) Kujenga maabara ya kisasa katika Kituo cha Utafiti cha Mikocheni ya kufanya utafiti wa uhandisi jeni kwa msaada wa asasi mbalimbali, zikiwemo
Rockefeller Foundation, Association to Strengthening Agricultural Research in East and Central Africa - ASARECA, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation na Danforth Centre ya Marekani. Maabara hii imeanza kufanya utafiti wa aina bora za mihogo yenye uwezo wa kuhimili magonjwa ya batobato (cassava mosaic disease) na michirizi ya kahawa (cassava brown steak disease - CBSD) baada ya kupata kibali kutoka kwa Waziri wa Mazingira.
(2) Wizara inashirikiana na Tume ya Taifa ya Sayansi na Teknolojia (COSTECH) katika kutekeleza Mradi wa Water Efficient Maize for Africa wenye lengo la kuongeza na kuimarisha uhifadhi wa chakula kwa kuzalisha mbegu bora za mahindi yanayostahimili ukame. Aidha, matokeo ya mradi huu yatachangia katika kukabiliana na mabadiliko ya tabianchi. Mradi huu ulianzishwa mwaka 2008 na unashirikisha Nchi za Uganda, Kenya, Msumbiji, Afrika Kusini na Tanzania. Mradi umejenga uwezo wa wataalamu na kuweka miundombinu kwa ajili ya kuanza utafiti huo. Mradi umeongeza uelewa wa wananchi juu ya masuala ya bioteknolojia kutokana na warsha za wadau katika ngazi za kitaifa, Mkoa (Dodoma) na Kata ya Makutupora na vile vile kwa kushiriki katika Maonesho ya Nanenane.
(3) Mradi wa WEMA una mpango wa kuanzisha utafiti wa kumdhibiti funza wa mahindi kwa kutumia mahindi yaliyofanyiwa mabadiliko ya jeni (Bt-maize). Kwa kufanya hivyo, Mradi wa WEMA unatarajia kuzalisha na kuwapatia wakulima aina ya mahindi yenye sifa ya kustahimili ukame pamoja na funza wa
mahindi.
(4) Mradi wa kutafiti mbegu za mahindi inayostahimili ukame kutumia jeni inayotokana na mmea wa jangwani (resurrection plant). Mradi unashirikisha Nchi za Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya na Tanzania chini ya ufadhili wa ASARECA. Mtafiti kutoka Wizara ya Kilimo amelazimika kufanyia utafiti wake Nchini Kenya.
Changamoto kuu: Kanuni za strict liability
zinawanyima watafiti uhuru na fursa ya kufanya na kuendeleza utafiti na uhawilishaji wa matokeo yake kwa kuwa zinakwaza upatikanaji wa rasilimali na ubadilishanaji wa utaalamu na uzoefu.
Kanuni za strict liability zinawakwaza washirika wetu na wadau wa maendeleo wanaofadhili tafiti za uhandisi jeni pamoja na wawekezaji katika Sekta ya Kilimo kwa kuwa sheria inaweza kuwatia hatiani hata
kama madhara ambayo yanaweza kutokea
yanatokana na makosa ya watu wengine au hata kama hayatakuwa yamesababishwa na teknolojia yenyewe.
Athari hasi zitakazoletwa na kuendelea na mfumo
tulionao sasa ni:-
(1) Kudhoofisha juhudi za Serikali za kujijengea uwezo wa kutumia sayansi, teknolojia na uvumbuzi katika utekelezaji wa azma ya Kilimo Kwanza na Mapinduzi ya Kijani ili kuongeza tija na maendeleo ya
Taifa na wananchi wake kwa jumla.
(2) Taifa kukosa fursa ya kutumia na kufaidika na teknolojia bora zenye uwezo wa kuimarisha uhakika wa chakula na kuongeza kipato. Kwa mfano, wakulima wadogo wa pamba Nchini Burkina Faso, Afrika ya Kusini, China na India wameweza kuongeza tija na uzalishaji wa pamba kutokana na kupanda Bt-cotton. Aina hii ya pamba imefanyiwa mabadiliko ya jeni kuiwezesha kujikinga kwa kiasi kikubwa na funza wa vitumba na kumfanya mkulima kutumia kiasi kidogo cha viuatilifu. Kwa hiyo, gharama za uzalishaji zinapungua na madhara yatokanayo na matumizi ya viuatilifu kwa binadamu na mazingira yanapungua. Aidha, faida kama hizi zinapatikana kwa kutumia aina ya mahindi ya bt-maize yenye ukinzani dhidi ya funza wa mahindi.
(3) Pamoja na kwamba sheria itatumika kudhibiti uingizaji wa mazao na bidhaa za GMO, kukwama kwa tafiti za GMO kutokana na Kanuni za Kusimamia Matumizi Salama ya Bioteknolojia, kunaikosesha nchi fursa na uwezo wa kufanya tathmini ya madhara na udhibiti wake (risk assessment and risk management). Kwa kuwa kuna uwezekano wa mazao na bidhaa za GMO kuingizwa nchini kwa njia zisizo halali, sisi kama nchi tutakuwa hatujajiandaa kujua kama mazao hayo yatakuwa na madhara au la. Uwezekano huu ni mkubwa kwa sababu nchi jirani za Kenya na Uganda zinafanya tafiti za aina hii katika mazao ya mihogo, mahindi, migomba, viazi vitamu na pamba na mwaka huu Kenya inatarajia kuwa nchi ya nne Afrika, baada ya Afrika ya Kusini, Misri na Burkina Faso, kuidhinisha uzalishaji wa pamba (Bt-cotton) kibiashara.
(4) Kusitishwa kwa miradi ya utafiti inayoendelea nchini. Hii ni pamoja na mradi wa utafiti wa aina bora za mihogo yenye uwezo wa kuhimili mradi wa utafiti wa aina bora za mihogo yenye uwezo wa kuhimili magonjwa ya batobato na michirizi ya kahawia pamoja na Mradi wa WEMA unaolenga kuzalisha miwa, mihogo na mahindi kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu mwaka huu; unatarajia kuzalisha na kuwapatia wakulima aina ya mahindi yenye sifa ya kustahimili ukame pamoja na funza wa mahindi.
(5) Watafiti wetu kukatishwa tamaa na
kushawishika kuhamia nchi za nje, zikiwemo nchi jirani kufanya tafiti hizo. Kwa mfano, watafiti wetu wamelazimika kufanya utafiti wa pamba (Bt-cotton) na mahindi nchini Kenya.
(6) Kupunguza kasi ya sekta binafsi katika kuwekeza kwenye miradi ya uwekezaji kama vile Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) ambayo inatarajia kutumia teknolojia mpya.
(7) Kudhoofisha azma ya Serikali katika
ushirikishaji wa Sekta Binafsi (Public - Private - Partnerships), asasi za Kikanda na Kimataifa katika utafiti na maendeleo hapa nchini. Sekta binafsi ni mdau muhimu kutokana na umiliki wake wa teknolojia mpya (proprietary technologies) ambazo zitachangia juhudi za kuleta Mapinduzi ya Kijani nchini.
Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti, napendekeza kwamba ili
kuweka mazingira mazuri ya kuhawilisha na kuendeleza utafiti na matumizi ya GMO hususan katika Sekta ya Kilimo na kuweza kunufaika na matokeo ya tafiti mbalimbali zinazohusu mahindi, mihogo, pamba, migomba na kadhalika, tunaishauri Serikali ichukue hatua madhubuti na za haraka za kufanya marekebisho ya Kanuni hizi.
Tunapendekeza Kanuni hizi zirekebishwe ili uwajibikaji wa wahusika uzingatie kosa litakalotendeka na mhusika atakayekuwa amelitenda, yaani fault based liability.
Zifuatazo ni Kanuni zinazopendekezwa zifanyiwe
marekebisho:-
Regulation No. 6: Strict Liability Statement:
- All approvals for introduction of GMO or their
products shall be subjet to a condition that the applicant is strictly liable for any damage caused to any person or entity.
Implication:
- The principal of strict liability is not fault-based and may apply despite the exercise of utmost care on the part of the alleged offender. According to this provision, the applicant would be liable in cases where damage is not necessarily caused as a result of the applicant's actual negligence or intent to harm.
- Almost all countries in the world have their
own legislation usually based on a fault based liability system for technologies that have already been shown to be safe to humans, animals and the environment.
Regulation 56 (1,2,3): Strict liability
Statement:
- 56 (1). Any person or his agent who imports,
transits, makes contained or confined use of, releases, carries out any activity in relation to GMOs or products thereof, places on the market a GMO shall be strictly liable for any harm, injury or loss caused directly or indirectly by such GMOs or their products or any activity related to GMOs.
- 56 (2). The harm, injury or loss includes
personal injury, damage to property, financial loss and damage to the environment or to biological diversity as well as taking into account socio-economic, cultural and ethical concerns.
- 56 (3). Liability shall be attached to the
applicant, the person responsible for the activity which results in the damage, injury or loss, as well as the provider, supplier or developer of the GMOs or their products.
Implication:
- The expressions of these provisions are too
broad, not functional and not enabling. They cover products there of, indirect effects of GMOs and products there of, socio-economic, cultural and ethical concerns. This provision provides room for the alleged offender to be held guilty without proof of association of the observed injuries or losses to the GMO activities.
Regulation 57 (1): Liability of Officer of Corporation
Statement:
- Any director, manager, secretary or similar
officer of a corporation shall similarly be held liable unless he can show he did everything in his power to prevent the import, release, etc. that caused the damage.
Implication:
- No fault liability may scare decision makers to
take actions in favour of promoting GMO activities even when benefits may outweigh perceived risks.
Regulation 59: Liability for socio-economic harm or damage.
Statement:
- Liability also extends to damage caused
directly or indirectly to the economy, social or cultural principles, livelihoods, indigenous knowledge systems or indigenous technologies. Harm includes disrupt or damage to production systems, agricultural systems, reductions in yield, and damage to the economy of an area or community.
Implication:
- Theoretically, this provision could make
applicants, promoters, investors, innovators,
collaborating partners and sponsoring agencies, liable if farmers of non-GMO traditional variety in a particular region of Tanzania lose market share to smallholder farmers using the GM crop variety.
Regulation 60: Indemnification by Applicant.
Statement:
- The application shall indemnify any other
person who deliberately releases or markets GMOs or products thereof and any person who manufactures, processes or markets food, food ingredients or animal feed containing or derived from GMOs against any civil liability where the GMO or their products were first imported, released, used in contained conditions, or placed on the market etc. by the applicant.
Implication:
- The effect of an indemnification provision is
that the indemnifying party (applicant) will compensate the indemnified party for any loss or damage that may be suffered as a result of the actions of the applicant. Indemnification may work by either direct compensation to the injured or by reimbursement for any loss incurred by the indemnified party. As stated above, the indemnifying party will be compelled to compensate the indemnified party regardless whether there is or no proof of injury or loss suffered by the indemnified party to have directly or indirectly been caused by GMO activities by the indemnifying party.
Regulation 62 (1): Right of individual and legal persons to sue.
Statement:
- Any person may bring a claim and seek relief
for any breach or threatened breach of the Regulations if in his own or the public interest. The NBFP also may initiate actions for compensation of any inhabitants or organisations in Tanzania that may suffer damage as a consequence of exposure to imported GMOs and their products. Art. 8(h).
Implication:
- This provision is potentially problematic
because of two reasons. First, the highlighted expression is too broad and speculative especially in view of the fact that a guiding principle of the Regulations is the provision that the lack of scientific evidence is not a basis for not taking preventive measures. Second, the above provision grants any anti- GMO grop the right to institute a speculative lawsuit against the Applicant and collaborating partners on the pretext that they are protecting the interests of a particular person or group of persons.
Regulation 64 (2) (a) & (b): Protection for reasonable.
Statement:
- Under the Regulations, no person is liable or
may be dismissed, disciplined or prejudiced on
account of having disclosed information to governmental authorities or the news media, if the person in good faith reasonably believed at the time of the disclosure that he was disclosing evidence of any risks posed by GMOs or their products.
Implication:
- While it is difficult to argue with the good faith disclosure of information to government authorities, the provision allowing disclosure of information to news media outlets could lead to violations of the confidentiality agreements, e.g. disclosure of Confidential Business Information (CBI).
Regulation 35 and 72 (1): Insurance against liability.
Statement:
- The applicant must have an insurance policy that covers liability to pay compensation for damages. The NBFP must be satisfied that the policy covers the risks likely to arise out of the activities.
Implication:
- Liability insurance for GMOs is not widely available in Africa, including Tanzania and the costs of such insurance could increase operational and product costs.
Article 73: Environmental Impact Assessment.
Statement:
- An application for field trial or release of GMO
shall not be permitted or licensed under the Regulations unless an Environmental Impact Assessment under these regulations has been carried out in accordance with the Act and the Environmental Impact Assessment and Audit Regulations, 2005.
Implication:
- This provision should not apply to research
under confined field trials because these are normally small experimental plots designed with adequated risk management measures to evaluate the GMO in question and to collect additional risk assessment data.
-- Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti, wakati wa kuandaa
mfumo wa kusimamia matumizi salama ya Bioteknolojia (mwaka 2003 - 2005), kama ilivyokuwa kwa nchi nyingi za Afrika, Tanzania tulijiwekea kwa makusudi mazingira magumu (Precautionary Principle na Strict Liability) ili kudhibiti uingizaji na matumizi ya bidhaa zinazotokana na bioteknolojia ya uhandisi jeni (Genetic Engineering). Kanuni za strict liability zinafanya sheria iwabane wahusika katika mlolongo mzima wa kutafiti, kuendeleza, kusafisha na kutumia teknolojia hii, wahusike moja kwa moja na madhara ambayo yanaweza kutokea hata kutokana na makosa ya watu wengine au hata kama hayatakuwa yamesababishwa na teknolojia yenyewe.
Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti, kutokana na kuwepo kwa Kanuni ya Strict Liability kumezuia kwa kipindi kirefu maeneo ya kilimo hapa nchini. Tatizo hili limerudisha nyuma sana nchi yetu ikichukulia kwamba nchi mbalimbali zimekuwa zikipinga maendeleo kutokana na matumizi ya GMO.
Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti, kutokana na hali hii, naiomba Serikali ifute kipengele hiki cha strict liability ili nchi yetu iweze kuongeza uzalishaji wa mazao mbalimbali ya kilimo na hivyo kuzalisha kwa wingi na kujenga uchumi wetu.
Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti, sisi Tanzania tukiwa
tunasuasua, wenzetu wamekuwa wakiitumia teknolojia hii. Kwa sasa nguo nyingi tunazovaa zimetokana na mazao ya pamba yaliyozalishwa kwa teknolojia hii.
Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti, tunapozidi kuchelewa, Tanzania itajikuta inaagiza bidhaa nyingi hata mbegu za mazao kutoka nchi nyingine zinazotokana na teknolojia ya GMO. Sasa naiomba Serikali irekebishe kanuni hii kwa maslahi ya nchi yetu.
Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti, naomba kuunga mkono
hoja kwa kuzingatia marekebisho ya Kanuni hii.
Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti, naipongeza Serikali kwa kuleta Bajeti yake hapa Bungeni. Maoni yangu ni kufanyiwa marekebisho ya Kanuni ya Matumizi Salama ya Bioteknolojia (Environmental Management (Bio Safety) Regulations, 2009). Naambatisha maoni yangu ya taarifa nzima kuhusu GMO na mapendekezo ya marekebisho ya Kanuni husika.
Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti, Bioteknolojia ni taaluma ya kutumia michakato ya ki-baiolojia ya viumbe hai ili kutengeneza bidhaa au kupata huduma kwa matumizi mbalimbali. Bioteknolojia inaweza kuchangia katika kuleta maendeleo endelevu ya kiuchumi na kijamii katika Sekta za Afya, Kilimo, Viwanda na Mazingira hapa nchini. Katika Sekta ya Afya bioteknolojia inatumika kutengeneza dawa na chanjo mbalimbali; kutambua magonjwa mbalimbali na kutengeneza vyakula vyenye virutubisho vya kukabiliana na matatizo ya utapiamlo. Kwa upande wa mazingira, teknolojia hii inaweza kutumika kusafisha mazingira; kwa mfano, kwa kuondoa mabaki ya sumu zinazotokana na taka za viwandani na majumbani. Aidha, teknolojia hii inaweza kupunguza matumizi ya viuatilifu na hivyo kuchangia katika kutunza na kuhifadhi mazingira na afya za binadamu na mifugo.
Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti, matumizi ya taaluma hii katika Sekta ya Viwanda ni pamoja na kuzalisha bidhaa mbalimbali kama vile nishati mbadala (bio- gesi, biofueli), vyakula vya wanyama, madawa ya kusafishia (detergents), plastiki zinazoweza kuoza na vipodozi mbalimbali. Katika Sekta ya Kilimo matumizi ya bioteknolojia ni pamoja na:-
- Kuongeza tija kwa kuzalisha aina za mazao
yenye (a) kustahimili ukame, (b) kustahimili magonjwa, (c) ukinzani dhidi ya wadudu na viuamagugu, (d) virutubisho zaidi (e) sifa ya kukaa muda mrefu bila kuoza na kupoteza ladha, (f) upungufu wa sumu asilia kwa mfano kwenye tumbaku na mihogo;
- Kuwezesha kutambua na kutofautisha nasaba za mimea na wanyama kwa uhakika na ufanisi;
- Kuhifadhi nasaba za mimea na wanyama;
- Kuzalisha kwa wingi miche yenye kutoa mazao mengi na isiyokuwa na magonjwa kwa njia ya tishu;
- Kuhifadhi nasaba za mimea na wanyama; na
- Kuzalisha kwa wingi miche yenye kutoa mazao mengi na isiyokuwa na magonjwa kwa njia ya tishu.
Hata hivyo, wapinzani wa teknolojia hii wamekuwa na mashaka katika maeneo makuu yafuatayo; usalama wa chakula kwa binadamu na wanyama na athari hasi kwa mazingira, kiuchumi na biashara, kimaadili, mila na desturi.
Taarifa kutoka Mashirika mbalimbali ya Kimataifa zinaonesha kwamba hakuna madhara yoyote kwa binadamu, wanyama wala mazingira, ambayo yamewahi kutokea katika nchi zinazozalisha mazao ya GMO baada ya kuidhinishwa na vyombo husika. Kwa mfano, taarifa kutoka Shirika la Afya la Dunia (WHO) zinaonesha kwamba, vyakula vitokanavyo na mazao ya GMO vilivyoko katika soko havina madhara yoyote kwa watumiaji kwa kuwa vimethibitishwa na kupasishwa na vyombo vinavyosimamia matumizi salama ya GMOs katika nchi husika. Aidha, hakuna taarifa zozote kutoka nchi zinazozalisha mazao ya GMO zinazoonesha kuwa wananchi wake wamewahi kudhurika kiafya kutokana na mazao hayo.
Kwa kutambua umuhimu na mchango wa bioteknolojia, Serikali ilianza mchakato kuhakikisha Taifa linafaidika na uhawilishaji (technology transfer) na uendelezaji wa matumizi ya bioteknolojia hapa nchini kwa kufanya yafuatayo:-
- Iliridhia kujiunga na International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology - ICGEB) mwaka 2002;
- Iliunda Kamati ya Kitaifa ya Ushauri wa
Bioteknoloja (National Biotechnogy Advisoty Committee - NBAC) mwaka 2002;
- Iliridhia Itifaki ya Cartagena ya Mkataba wa
Bioanuai (Cartagena Photocol on Biosafety, CPB to the Convention on Biological Biodiversity, CBD) mwaka 2003. Madhumumi ya Itifaki hii ni kuhifadhi mazingira kwa kuzingatia usalama katika usafirishaji, "handling" na matumizi ya viumbe watokanao na bioteknolojia ya kisasa zinazoweza kuathiri bioanuai au afya ya binadamu;
- Iliunda mfumo wa Taifa wa Usimamizi wa
Matumizi Salama ya Bioteknolojia (National Biosafety Framework) mwaka 2005 kwa kuzingatia Sera ya Mazingira ya Mwaka 1997 na Sheria ya Mazingira ya
Mwaka 2004;
- Ilipitisha Mwongozo wa Matumizi Salama ya
Bioteknolojia (Biosafety Guidelines) wa mwaka 2005;
- Ilitengeneza Kanuni za Kusimamia Matumizi
Salama ya Bioteknolojia mwaka 2009;
- Iliunda Kamati ya Kitaifa ya Kusimamia
Matumizi Salama ya Bioteknolojia (National Biosafety
Committee) mwaka 2009;
- Ilipitisha Sheria ya Matumizi ya Vinasaba (The
Human DNA Regulation Act) mwaka 2009; na
- Ilipitisha Sera ya Taifa ya Bioteknolojia mwaka
2010 ambayo inatoa miongozo ya uhawilishaji na
uendelezaji wa matumizi ya bioteknolojia hapa nchini.
Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti, wakati wa kuandaa
Mfumo wa Kusimamia Matumizi Salama ya Bioteknolojia (mwaka 2003 - 2005), kama ilivyokuwa kwa nchi nyingi za Afrika, Tanzania tulijiwekea kwa makusudi mazingira magumu (precautionary principle na strict liability) ili kudhibiti uingizaji na matumizi ya bidhaa zitokanazo na bioteknolojia ya uhandisi jeni (genetic engineering). Kanuni za strict liability zinaifanya sheria iwabane wahusika katika mlolongo mzima wa kutafiti, kuendeleza, kusafisha na kutumia teknolojia hii, wahusike moja kwa moja na madhara ambayo yanaweza kutokea hata kutokana na makosa ya watu wengine au hata kama hayatakuwa yamesababishwa na teknolojia yenyewe. Sababu ya msingi ya kuweka mazingira hayo magumu wakati huo ilitokana na kutokuwa na uwezo na utaalamu wa kutosha wa kufanya tathmini na udhibiti madhara (risk assessment and risk management).
Wizara ya Kilimo Chakula na Ushirika imekuwa mstari wa mbele katika kuendeleza matumizi ya bioteknolojia ya uhandisi wa jeni katika Sekta ya Kilimo hapa nchini kama ifuatavyo:-
(1) Kujenga maabara ya kisasa katika Kituo cha Utafiti cha Mikocheni ya kufanya utafiti wa uhandisi jeni kwa msaada wa asasi mbalimbali, zikiwemo
Rockefeller Foundation, Association to Strengthening Agricultural Research in East and Central Africa - ASARECA, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation na Danforth Centre ya Marekani. Maabara hii imeanza kufanya utafiti wa aina bora za mihogo yenye uwezo wa kuhimili magonjwa ya batobato (cassava mosaic disease) na michirizi ya kahawa (cassava brown steak disease - CBSD) baada ya kupata kibali kutoka kwa Waziri wa Mazingira.
(2) Wizara inashirikiana na Tume ya Taifa ya Sayansi na Teknolojia (COSTECH) katika kutekeleza Mradi wa Water Efficient Maize for Africa wenye lengo la kuongeza na kuimarisha uhifadhi wa chakula kwa kuzalisha mbegu bora za mahindi yanayostahimili ukame. Aidha, matokeo ya mradi huu yatachangia katika kukabiliana na mabadiliko ya tabianchi. Mradi huu ulianzishwa mwaka 2008 na unashirikisha Nchi za Uganda, Kenya, Msumbiji, Afrika Kusini na Tanzania. Mradi umejenga uwezo wa wataalamu na kuweka miundombinu kwa ajili ya kuanza utafiti huo. Mradi umeongeza uelewa wa wananchi juu ya masuala ya bioteknolojia kutokana na warsha za wadau katika ngazi za kitaifa, Mkoa (Dodoma) na Kata ya Makutupora na vile vile kwa kushiriki katika Maonesho ya Nanenane.
(3) Mradi wa WEMA una mpango wa kuanzisha utafiti wa kumdhibiti funza wa mahindi kwa kutumia mahindi yaliyofanyiwa mabadiliko ya jeni (Bt-maize). Kwa kufanya hivyo, Mradi wa WEMA unatarajia kuzalisha na kuwapatia wakulima aina ya mahindi yenye sifa ya kustahimili ukame pamoja na funza wa
mahindi.
(4) Mradi wa kutafiti mbegu za mahindi inayostahimili ukame kutumia jeni inayotokana na mmea wa jangwani (resurrection plant). Mradi unashirikisha Nchi za Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya na Tanzania chini ya ufadhili wa ASARECA. Mtafiti kutoka Wizara ya Kilimo amelazimika kufanyia utafiti wake Nchini Kenya.
Changamoto kuu: Kanuni za strict liability
zinawanyima watafiti uhuru na fursa ya kufanya na kuendeleza utafiti na uhawilishaji wa matokeo yake kwa kuwa zinakwaza upatikanaji wa rasilimali na ubadilishanaji wa utaalamu na uzoefu.
Kanuni za strict liability zinawakwaza washirika wetu na wadau wa maendeleo wanaofadhili tafiti za uhandisi jeni pamoja na wawekezaji katika Sekta ya Kilimo kwa kuwa sheria inaweza kuwatia hatiani hata
kama madhara ambayo yanaweza kutokea
yanatokana na makosa ya watu wengine au hata kama hayatakuwa yamesababishwa na teknolojia yenyewe.
Athari hasi zitakazoletwa na kuendelea na mfumo
tulionao sasa ni:-
(1) Kudhoofisha juhudi za Serikali za kujijengea uwezo wa kutumia sayansi, teknolojia na uvumbuzi katika utekelezaji wa azma ya Kilimo Kwanza na Mapinduzi ya Kijani ili kuongeza tija na maendeleo ya
Taifa na wananchi wake kwa jumla.
(2) Taifa kukosa fursa ya kutumia na kufaidika na teknolojia bora zenye uwezo wa kuimarisha uhakika wa chakula na kuongeza kipato. Kwa mfano, wakulima wadogo wa pamba Nchini Burkina Faso, Afrika ya Kusini, China na India wameweza kuongeza tija na uzalishaji wa pamba kutokana na kupanda Bt-cotton. Aina hii ya pamba imefanyiwa mabadiliko ya jeni kuiwezesha kujikinga kwa kiasi kikubwa na funza wa vitumba na kumfanya mkulima kutumia kiasi kidogo cha viuatilifu. Kwa hiyo, gharama za uzalishaji zinapungua na madhara yatokanayo na matumizi ya viuatilifu kwa binadamu na mazingira yanapungua. Aidha, faida kama hizi zinapatikana kwa kutumia aina ya mahindi ya bt-maize yenye ukinzani dhidi ya funza wa mahindi.
(3) Pamoja na kwamba sheria itatumika kudhibiti uingizaji wa mazao na bidhaa za GMO, kukwama kwa tafiti za GMO kutokana na Kanuni za Kusimamia Matumizi Salama ya Bioteknolojia, kunaikosesha nchi fursa na uwezo wa kufanya tathmini ya madhara na udhibiti wake (risk assessment and risk management). Kwa kuwa kuna uwezekano wa mazao na bidhaa za GMO kuingizwa nchini kwa njia zisizo halali, sisi kama nchi tutakuwa hatujajiandaa kujua kama mazao hayo yatakuwa na madhara au la. Uwezekano huu ni mkubwa kwa sababu nchi jirani za Kenya na Uganda zinafanya tafiti za aina hii katika mazao ya mihogo, mahindi, migomba, viazi vitamu na pamba na mwaka huu Kenya inatarajia kuwa nchi ya nne Afrika, baada ya Afrika ya Kusini, Misri na Burkina Faso, kuidhinisha uzalishaji wa pamba (Bt-cotton) kibiashara.
(4) Kusitishwa kwa miradi ya utafiti inayoendelea nchini. Hii ni pamoja na mradi wa utafiti wa aina bora za mihogo yenye uwezo wa kuhimili mradi wa utafiti wa aina bora za mihogo yenye uwezo wa kuhimili magonjwa ya batobato na michirizi ya kahawia pamoja na Mradi wa WEMA unaolenga kuzalisha miwa, mihogo na mahindi kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu mwaka huu; unatarajia kuzalisha na kuwapatia wakulima aina ya mahindi yenye sifa ya kustahimili ukame pamoja na funza wa mahindi.
(5) Watafiti wetu kukatishwa tamaa na
kushawishika kuhamia nchi za nje, zikiwemo nchi jirani kufanya tafiti hizo. Kwa mfano, watafiti wetu wamelazimika kufanya utafiti wa pamba (Bt-cotton) na mahindi nchini Kenya.
(6) Kupunguza kasi ya sekta binafsi katika kuwekeza kwenye miradi ya uwekezaji kama vile Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) ambayo inatarajia kutumia teknolojia mpya.
(7) Kudhoofisha azma ya Serikali katika
ushirikishaji wa Sekta Binafsi (Public - Private - Partnerships), asasi za Kikanda na Kimataifa katika utafiti na maendeleo hapa nchini. Sekta binafsi ni mdau muhimu kutokana na umiliki wake wa teknolojia mpya (proprietary technologies) ambazo zitachangia juhudi za kuleta Mapinduzi ya Kijani nchini.
Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti, napendekeza kwamba ili
kuweka mazingira mazuri ya kuhawilisha na kuendeleza utafiti na matumizi ya GMO hususan katika Sekta ya Kilimo na kuweza kunufaika na matokeo ya tafiti mbalimbali zinazohusu mahindi, mihogo, pamba, migomba na kadhalika, tunaishauri Serikali ichukue hatua madhubuti na za haraka za kufanya marekebisho ya Kanuni hizi.
Tunapendekeza Kanuni hizi zirekebishwe ili uwajibikaji wa wahusika uzingatie kosa litakalotendeka na mhusika atakayekuwa amelitenda, yaani fault based liability.
Zifuatazo ni Kanuni zinazopendekezwa zifanyiwe
marekebisho:-
Regulation No. 6: Strict Liability Statement:
- All approvals for introduction of GMO or their
products shall be subjet to a condition that the applicant is strictly liable for any damage caused to any person or entity.
Implication:
- The principal of strict liability is not fault-based and may apply despite the exercise of utmost care on the part of the alleged offender. According to this provision, the applicant would be liable in cases where damage is not necessarily caused as a result of the applicant's actual negligence or intent to harm.
- Almost all countries in the world have their
own legislation usually based on a fault based liability system for technologies that have already been shown to be safe to humans, animals and the environment.
Regulation 56 (1,2,3): Strict liability
Statement:
- 56 (1). Any person or his agent who imports,
transits, makes contained or confined use of, releases, carries out any activity in relation to GMOs or products thereof, places on the market a GMO shall be strictly liable for any harm, injury or loss caused directly or indirectly by such GMOs or their products or any activity related to GMOs.
- 56 (2). The harm, injury or loss includes
personal injury, damage to property, financial loss and damage to the environment or to biological diversity as well as taking into account socio-economic, cultural and ethical concerns.
- 56 (3). Liability shall be attached to the
applicant, the person responsible for the activity which results in the damage, injury or loss, as well as the provider, supplier or developer of the GMOs or their products.
Implication:
- The expressions of these provisions are too
broad, not functional and not enabling. They cover products there of, indirect effects of GMOs and products there of, socio-economic, cultural and ethical concerns. This provision provides room for the alleged offender to be held guilty without proof of association of the observed injuries or losses to the GMO activities.
Regulation 57 (1): Liability of Officer of Corporation
Statement:
- Any director, manager, secretary or similar
officer of a corporation shall similarly be held liable unless he can show he did everything in his power to prevent the import, release, etc. that caused the damage.
Implication:
- No fault liability may scare decision makers to
take actions in favour of promoting GMO activities even when benefits may outweigh perceived risks.
Regulation 59: Liability for socio-economic harm or damage.
Statement:
- Liability also extends to damage caused
directly or indirectly to the economy, social or cultural principles, livelihoods, indigenous knowledge systems or indigenous technologies. Harm includes disrupt or damage to production systems, agricultural systems, reductions in yield, and damage to the economy of an area or community.
Implication:
- Theoretically, this provision could make
applicants, promoters, investors, innovators,
collaborating partners and sponsoring agencies, liable if farmers of non-GMO traditional variety in a particular region of Tanzania lose market share to smallholder farmers using the GM crop variety.
Regulation 60: Indemnification by Applicant.
Statement:
- The application shall indemnify any other
person who deliberately releases or markets GMOs or products thereof and any person who manufactures, processes or markets food, food ingredients or animal feed containing or derived from GMOs against any civil liability where the GMO or their products were first imported, released, used in contained conditions, or placed on the market etc. by the applicant.
Implication:
- The effect of an indemnification provision is
that the indemnifying party (applicant) will compensate the indemnified party for any loss or damage that may be suffered as a result of the actions of the applicant. Indemnification may work by either direct compensation to the injured or by reimbursement for any loss incurred by the indemnified party. As stated above, the indemnifying party will be compelled to compensate the indemnified party regardless whether there is or no proof of injury or loss suffered by the indemnified party to have directly or indirectly been caused by GMO activities by the indemnifying party.
Regulation 62 (1): Right of individual and legal persons to sue.
Statement:
- Any person may bring a claim and seek relief
for any breach or threatened breach of the Regulations if in his own or the public interest. The NBFP also may initiate actions for compensation of any inhabitants or organisations in Tanzania that may suffer damage as a consequence of exposure to imported GMOs and their products. Art. 8(h).
Implication:
- This provision is potentially problematic
because of two reasons. First, the highlighted expression is too broad and speculative especially in view of the fact that a guiding principle of the Regulations is the provision that the lack of scientific evidence is not a basis for not taking preventive measures. Second, the above provision grants any anti- GMO grop the right to institute a speculative lawsuit against the Applicant and collaborating partners on the pretext that they are protecting the interests of a particular person or group of persons.
Regulation 64 (2) (a) & (b): Protection for reasonable.
Statement:
- Under the Regulations, no person is liable or
may be dismissed, disciplined or prejudiced on
account of having disclosed information to governmental authorities or the news media, if the person in good faith reasonably believed at the time of the disclosure that he was disclosing evidence of any risks posed by GMOs or their products.
Implication:
- While it is difficult to argue with the good faith disclosure of information to government authorities, the provision allowing disclosure of information to news media outlets could lead to violations of the confidentiality agreements, e.g. disclosure of Confidential Business Information (CBI).
Regulation 35 and 72 (1): Insurance against liability.
Statement:
- The applicant must have an insurance policy that covers liability to pay compensation for damages. The NBFP must be satisfied that the policy covers the risks likely to arise out of the activities.
Implication:
- Liability insurance for GMOs is not widely available in Africa, including Tanzania and the costs of such insurance could increase operational and product costs.
Article 73: Environmental Impact Assessment.
Statement:
- An application for field trial or release of GMO
shall not be permitted or licensed under the Regulations unless an Environmental Impact Assessment under these regulations has been carried out in accordance with the Act and the Environmental Impact Assessment and Audit Regulations, 2005.
Implication:
- This provision should not apply to research
under confined field trials because these are normally small experimental plots designed with adequated risk management measures to evaluate the GMO in question and to collect additional risk assessment data.
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