The National Assembly of Senegal unanimously adopted the National Revised Law on Biosafety on 3 June 2022. Abdou Karim Sall, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development defended the bill before the parliament, highlighting its relevance in the current context. In their deliberations, MPs commended in particular the inclusive approach that prevailed during the drafting of the revised bill, that allowed openness and information sharing with all the stakeholders concerned, including parliamentarians, at all stages of the process.

Senegal ratified the Cartagena Protocol in 2003 and adopted the first national law on biosafety in 2009. However, this 2009 law had strict liability clauses that proved not conducive to the development and safe use of modern biotechnologies in the country.

The revision process of the law started in 2015 with the technical support of AUDA-NEPAD ABNE. It was a participatory and inclusive approach involving honourable Deputies, members of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council and the High Council of Local Authorities, media professionals, producers, representatives of civil society, and public sector agents.

According to Agence Nationale de Biosécurité (ANB) of Senegal, the advantages of the new law include the correction of some incompatibilities of the 2009 law with the objectives of the Cartagena Protocol and the Convention on Biological Diversity; the integration of key aspects of the Nagoya Kuala Lumpur Additional Protocol on Liability and Redress; and the incorporation of key points drawn from in the recently approved ECOWAS biosafety guidelines.

With this new law, Senegal will be able to operationalize its biosafety framework and safely harness modern biotechnologies for its development. In its 10-year development plan called “Plan Senegal Emergent” (PSE), structural transformation of the economy and growth is among the 3 top priorities. Creating an enabling environment for the use of technologies will definitely help the country oil the wheels for increased productivity and socio-economic development.