The Genetically Modified Organisms (Control of Release) (Exemption) Notice made under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Control of Release) Ordinance will take effect tomorrow.
The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department said the ordinance, which came into effect on March 1, controls the release into the environment and the transboundary movement of genetically modified organisms.
The notice exempts all varieties of genetically modified papaya and live recombinant veterinary vaccines from section 5 of the ordinance, so that it is not an offence to grow or maintain a genetically modified papaya in the field, or administer a live recombinant veterinary vaccine to an animal.
It also exempts two commercialised varieties of genetically modified papaya and live recombinant veterinary vaccines from section 7 of the ordinance. Prior approval will be required to import for environmental release non-exempted genetically modified papaya, including newly developed genetically modified varieties.
The department's risk assessment found that genetically modified papaya is unlikely to pose any adverse biosafety effect on the local environment's biological diversity.
It will carry out a review on the exemption of genetically modified papaya in three years' time to report to an expert group established under the ordinance.
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