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Country's Decision or any other Communication
(DEC)
last updated: 11 Mar 2025
No
Decision of an Application from the Council for Scientific and lndustrial Research, Savanna Agricultural Research lnstitute (CSIR - SARI) for Confined Field Trial (CFT) of Genetically Modified Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) Resistant to Cowpea field pest (Maruca vitrata) Event DPS200V2 in Ghana.
EN
18 Mar 2025
No
- Decision on LMOs for intentional introduction into the environment (according to Article 10 or domestic regulatory framework)
No
No
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- Organization: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute () | BCH-CON-GH-260923-1Organization:Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute ()Academic or research instituteCSIR-SARI Nyamkpala RoadTamale, Northern Region
'Gh, GhanaPhone: +233370298331,Fax:Email: sari@csir-gh.org,Website: http://www.sari.csir.org.gh,
Yes
No
No
Approval of the import and/or use of the LMO(s) with conditions
Terms and conditions for Confined Field Trial of Genetically Modified Cowpea in Ghana
Approval
Pursuant to Section 21 of the Biosafety Act, 2011 (Act 831), and on the basis of the information contained in the application 2024-283-SARI-009-C and the risk assessment report submitted by the TAC on the application, this approval is issued authorizing the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute to undertake Confined Field Trial of genetically modified cowpea resistant to Maruca pod borer (maruca vitrata) at the approved site at Nyankpala and Manga, near Tamale subject to the following terms and conditions.
1.0 Authorisation and Compliance
No genetically modified cowpea plant material can be removed from the trial site, transported, planted, or distributed without explicit authorization by the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) unless it is authorised under this permit. Failure to comply with the conditions of an authorized release is a contravention of Section 41 of the Biosafety Act, 2011 (Act 831), which attracts punitive action.
2.0 Packaging and Storage
2.1 All genetically modified cowpea plant material including seeds intended for transportation must be packaged in at least two secure containers to prevent spillage, dissemination, or infestation.
2.2 These packages must be clearly labelled with the name of Event and marked “GM material”, dated and the name and contact details of the person responsible for the confined field trial and the name and contact details of the person responsible for the confinement of the material.
2.3 GM cowpea plant material and seeds must be segregated and kept separately from non-GM cowpea to minimize mishandling or co-mingling.
3.0 Transportation
3.1 The transportation of genetically modified cowpea plant material must be done through the most direct and safe route including air transport if necessary.
3.2 Records of the dispatch and receipt of genetically modified cowpea plant material must be kept.
3.3 Records of seed quantities transported must be maintained and provided to NBA, when requested.
3.4 The CSIR-SARI should liaise with the Ghana Revenue Authority, Customs Division (GRA-Customs) for advice on the importation and clearance of the seeds on arrival at the port of entry.
4.0 Reproductive Isolation
4.1 Reproductive isolation should be provided by border rows and an isolation distance. One border row should be planted with a mixture of conventional cowpea varieties (to ensure flowers are present while the test plants flower) and should be planted at the same or higher density than the test plants and treated with the same agronomic inputs to ensure healthy growth.
4.2 The border rows should be monitored weekly until the end of flowering to ensure sufficient growth and flowering to act as a pollen trap for foraging insects.
4.3 An isolation distance of 10m outside the border rows should be cleared of cowpea plants prior to planting of the trial.
4.4 The isolation distance should be monitored at least once every four weeks to identify and remove any cowpea plant prior to flowering.
4.5 Should cowpea plants set seed in the isolation area before they are uprooted, the whole isolation area should be included in the post-harvest monitoring.
5.0 Preventing Dissemination of Plant Material
5.1 No plant material from these trials shall enter the human food or livestock feed chain. The trial site should be secured to discourage foraging and pilfering.
5.2 The site must be marked with signs indicating it as a CFT site.
5.3 Seeding, planting, site maintenance, and harvesting equipment must be cleaned of all residual plant material at the trial site prior to being moved to other locations to prevent dispersal of genetically modified plant material.
5.4 All staff members must be trained to comply with the terms and conditions of this approval and to understand why the materials cannot be used for food or feed at this stage in the research.
5.5 Personnel leaving the trial site must not carry any plant material with them unless it is authorized for transfer to a contained facility and is securely packaged, labelled, and recorded appropriately in the logbook.
6.0 Trial Boundary Marking
6.1 In addition to physical barriers, markers should be placed at all corners of the trial site to identify the confined field trial boundaries. The markers (e.g., flags, corner posts.) should be conspicuous, identifiable, and in place for both the trial seasons and the post-harvest restriction period.
7.0 Fertilizer and Pesticide Application
7.1 If fertilizers and pesticides are used on the trial site that requires a temporary prohibition on entry into the site, a sign must be posted at the access to the trial indicating the date and time of spraying as well as the time until safe entry. This condition is intended to protect the health and safety of all the workers and inspectors. The use of fertilizers and pesticides must comply with existing regulations i.e., Section 44, sub-section (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6) of the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994 (Act 490) and the Plants and Fertilizer Act, 2010 (Act 803).
8.0 Harvesting and Seed Set
8.1 All seeds and propagation materials, including non-modified control materials, must be used for the intended purposes as stated in the application.
9.0 Disposal
9.1 All plant material harvested from the confined field trial that is not retained, must be destroyed by controlled burning to ashes or buried at a depth of at least one metre below the surface.
9.2 All non-modified seed and plant material harvested from trial sites must be treated the same way as the genetically modified material and destroyed on site.
10.0 Storage
10.1 All genetically modified cowpea seeds and planting materials retained from planting or harvesting must be stored in clearly labelled and secure containers (designed to minimize the potential for spillage, mixing, or dissemination) and kept separate from conventional seeds and plant materials. Appropriate records must be retained.
10.2 Each container of genetically modified cowpea planting material must be labelled with the inscription "Genetically modified- Do not use without authorization” and dated.
10.3 The storage area for genetically modified cowpea planting material must be labelled with the contact details of the Principal Investigator responsible for the research.
10.4 In the event of any accidental spillage, mixing or dissemination of material, corrective action must be initiated and documented immediately. This must be done in consultation with the biosafety officer / IBC while the National Biosafety Authority is notified by telephone and in writing within 24 hours.
11.0 Post-Harvest Period
11.1 The post-harvest period may be delayed if repeat cowpea trials with the same events are run on the same site for subsequent seasons.
11.2 Upon completion of the trial, the site must be put under irrigation to induce germination of all volunteer cowpeas.
11.3 Post-harvest monitoring must continue once a week for at least 5 weeks, or until no cowpea volunteers have been identified for two consecutive weeks. During this period all cowpea volunteers must be recorded, uprooted, and destroyed.
11.4 All volunteer cowpea plants should be treated as genetically modified and destroyed on site by desiccation and controlled burning to ashes. If volunteers set flowers or seed before being uprooted, the post-harvest monitoring period must be extended for another 5 weeks.
12.0 Monitoring
12.1 During the trial growing seasons, the isolation distance must be monitored weekly to ensure that all cowpea plants are removed before the seed set. Records must be kept of this in-season monitoring of the isolation area.
12.2 During the post-trial growing season, the trial site and the additional 5-metre buffer zone must be monitored weekly. Records must be kept of the post-harvest monitoring of the trial site.
13.0 Accidental Release
13.1 In the case of accidental release of viable planting materials into the environment, recoverable seeds or seedlings must be collected, destroyed, and documented immediately, in consultation with the biosafety officer / IBC. The National Biosafety Authority must be notified by telephone and in writing within 24 hours.
13.2 All cowpea plants at the release site must be destroyed as described in section 9 (disposal) above. The release site must be marked and monitored weekly for five (5) weeks.
14.0 Records
14.1 A detailed trial logbook and a file must be kept at the trial site during the trial period. This book and file must contain the permit(s) and records of transport; storage; staff compliance training; planting; in-season crop treatments; border row and isolation area monitoring; early termination or harvest; equipment cleaning; retained materials; crop and seed destruction; post-harvest site management and monitoring; and accidental release management.
14.2 These records must be maintained by the applicant and be available for inspection for a minimum of seven years after the end of the post-harvest period.
15.0 Reporting
15.1 The National Biosafety Authority must be notified in writing or by e-mail at least 10 days before planting and at least 10 days before harvesting each trial on the site.
15.2 A short trial report summarizing the biosafety aspects of the completed trial(s), including any approved amendments to the original confinement conditions, must be sent to the NBA not more than three weeks after the end of the post-harvest period.
16.0 Transferability
This approval shall not be transferred to any other institute, event, or location. It covers only the Institutional Biosafety Committee of SARI and its operations at Nyankpala and Manga.
To ensure adequate level of protection in the field of safe development, transfer, handling and use of genetically modified organisms resulting from biotechnology that may have an adverse effect on health and the environment.
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BCH-LMO-SCBD-277225-1 Living Modified Organism DPS-2ØØV2-2 - Pod borer resistant cowpeaDonald Danforth Plant Science Center | Resistance to diseases and pests (Insects, Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), Cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa spp.), European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis), Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda))
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- DPS2002V2_20250123_0001.pdf [ English ]
