Strategy and action plan for the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in 2012 • In the Eritrean Environmental Protection Management and Rehabilitation Framework,Proclamation No.179/2017,Article 28 states that Ministry of Land Water and Environment is empowered to promote and maintain the safety and enhancement of biodiversity; introduction of GMOs/LMOs into the country should be based on prior written consent and strictly regulated; introduction, development and use of GMOs/LMOs in the country should be subjecttoappropriate assessments in order to ensure that their adverse effects are prevented or mitigated. • A national multi sectorial biosafety and biosecurity guide for laboratories is also under preparation

There is no use of living modified organisms (LMOs) which are pharmaceuticals for humans. There exists a challenge in accessing the information regarding those products that needs human and institutional capacity building in biosafety to manage them effectively.

Eritrea has not used any material of LMOs for research purposes or for production up to now but generally Inadequacy of Technical capacity in the Identification of LMOs remains a challenge.

We have not dealt with the introduction of LMOs for research or for educational purposes and in situation of introducing such materials, will follow the article which is already in place However there exists inadequate technical and scientific capacity i.e. limitations of scientific expertise, data and laboratory infrastructure .

Article 11 of the National Biosafety Framework addresses, despite of low capacity to identify LMOs, any introduction of genetic resources that directly to be used for food, feed or processing purposes and that have potential effects on human health and environment is not permitted. If there is a need for that purpose in the future, it will be decided by the regulations and framework already in place.

There exists a guideline for the intentional transboundry movement of LMOs but hasn’t carried out any review on the measures and decisions dealing with transboundry issue related to the Genetically modified organisms.

We have not dealt with any simplified procedure regarding an intentional transboundry movement of LMO’s.

To conduct a safe handling of high consequence pathogens To properly archive the priority pathogens To conduct periodic inventory of the high consequence pathogens To maintain the highest level-3 (BSL-3) laboratory periodically based on the service agreements

Even though Article 14 is included in the draft national Biosafety Framework, there are some genetic resources introduced which require other procedures such as phytosanitary procedures relating to the health of plants, especially with respect to the requirements of international trade, that are not intended for LMOs.

Even though Eritrea has put in place risk assessment and risk management tools and mechanisms so far there is no any appropriate measure taken for implementation due to insufficient regulatory system and also resource constraints to manage risk assessments and compliance. There is a need of appropriate laboratory equipment, facilities and chemical supplies. Furthermore, short or long term training for experts to carry out risk assessment, management, analysis and monitoring is crucial.

Even though Eritrea has less capacity to control and take emergency measures on unintentional trans-boundary movement of LMOs, it has developed some general regulations concerning LMOs that could enter unintentionally.

Eventhough the country has some guidelines, procedures and regulations developed pertinent to handling, transport, packaging and identification of LMOs, the capacity to implement this article is at its lowest stage. Therefore, the country needs to fill the gaps interims of human skills and infrastructures. Laboratories have to be certified for the detection of LMO’s and staffs have to be trained for this purpose.

As indicated in Paragraph 99 above, Eritrea has designated the Department of Environment of the Ministry of Land, Water and Environment as a Competent National Authority and National Focal Point to handle issues related to biotechnology and its products as well as biosafety measures and liaise with appropriate national and international bodies. Therefore, the Department of Environment has the following administrative functions/role/responsibilities. It acts as a decision making body, it reviews data on proposed GM activities and approves or rejects them on the basis of the regulatory framework and the advice it receives from the scientific advisory committee; establishes monitoring and inspection team that is responsible for monitoring and ensuring compliance in cooperation with an enforcement regime; and fulfils the obligations of and liaises with the secretariat of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

Eritrea has developed its National Biosafety Framework (2007),a strategy and action plan for the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2012). Furthermore, the country enacted a Proclamation No.179/2017: The Eritrean Environmental Protection, Management and Rehabilitation Framework. In 2008, 2009 , 2018 and 2021 capacity building training workshops on Biosafety Clearing House(BCH) have been conducted in collaboration with UNEP. These workshops have a great role on strengthening the National Biosafety Clearing House network with properly identified stakeholders; exchanging information; preparing guidelines for management biosafety information linkage; establishing a biosafety data bank; establishing information sharing mechanism between the national, regional and central portal of the BCH. . However, our BCH needs regular human and institutional capacity building for the implementation of the Article 20 of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

In the Biosafety guideline of Eritrea regarding confidentiality, states that Confidential business information shall be divulged to the Head of the NFP during disclosure of an application, during AIA or intentional trans-boundary movements of GMOs as per Article 17. The disclosure shall: a)Specify the basic procedure for ensuring protection of confidential information provided under the procedures of the Protocol, b)Address the situations where the NCA and the notifier disagree as to whether particular information should be treated as confidential or not, and where the notifier decides to withdraw a notification, c) Set out a general obligation to protect confidential information received under the Protocol, and specify categories of information, which shall not be considered confidential. d) In addition the guideline addresses ' If portions of the application contain trade secret or Confidential Business Information (CBI), each page of the application containing such information should be marked "Commercial-in-Confidence" or "CIC Copy" by the notifier.'

The country has benefited Small Scale GEF Fund for conducting Biosafety Clearing House (BCH) training workshops in 2008, 2009 , 2018 and 2021in collaboration with UNEP. In these workshops totally 94 experts from different line Ministries, colleges and other organisations were participated. In addition, Eritrea has participated in some regional training workshops on Risk Assessment of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs), and BCH, organized by the CBD. However , biosafety capacity building initiatives has to be promoted and strengthened.

Biosafety is integrated in the educational curricular activities in colleges that deal with courses like breeding, biodiversity, biotechnology, tissue culture, food safety…etc. Which equip students on skills, knowledge and awareness that deal with biosafety, Moreover Public participation is one of the main components of the National Biosafety Framework. In addition the updated NBSAP (2026-2030), Target 13, has addressed the issue of biosafety and biotechnology to promote Article 23 of the protocol. However, more actions are required to raise the awareness of the people on biosafety issues and access information to contribute in implementing action plans.

Yet, the country has not signed any bilateral, regional, or multilateral agreements with non parties regarding transboundry movements of LMOs.

Even though regulatory instruments are in place regarding trans-boundary movement, no information on illegal transboudary movement of LMOs cases reported during this reporting period. But it is very critical to strengthen the enforcement of these regulatory instruments technical and infrastructure capacity to detect illegal movements of GMOs.

Eritrea is a centre of diversity and origin of different crop species with landraces cultivated for generations. The landraces are adaptable to climate change and early maturing which are acceptable by the farmers to be used for different traditional food stuffs; the straw is used for animal feed, house construction, thus the department of Environment is aware of such kind of socio economic considerations in dealing with LMOs.

Since Eritrea is a party to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety , it has made an effort to implement the protocol through cooperation with the UNEP-GEF and receiving modest financial and technical supports for setting national targets aligned with the Kunming Montreal-GBF and SDGs. However, the country needs to strengthen cooperation and obtaining more technical and financial support for implementing the biosafety protocol. through the participation of local communities and relevant stakeholders.