(Ecofin Agency) - Will Cote d’Ivoire open its borders to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)? This is the question lingering in the minds of many as the Ivorian government just drafted a Bill on bio-security, which, according to Bruno Nabagné Koné, government’s spokesperson, “establishes an environment that favors the exploitation, at peace, of anything related to biotechnology, so as to help populations and develop”.

According to the official, the Bill was drafted so Cote d’Ivoire adapts its legislation to the international commitments it made. The new Bill insists on various principles such as the prevention principle, the “polluter, payer” principle or on the regional and international cooperation principle.

The act plans for the establishment of a national bio-security and bio-safety Commission and that of a national bio-security observatory.

Moreover, it must be highlighted that the government of Cote d’Ivoire manifested a great interest in GMOs, over the past few years. What is left now is to know if parliament will share government’s excitement and approve the legislation.

Aaron Akinocho