Law 24 of 2012 The Biological Safety Act for Genetically Modified Organisms and Their Products

President

Based on the Constitution

As approved by the People's Assembly at its meeting in question 27-11-1433 A.H., 14-10-2012.

The following are issued:

Chapter I

Definitions

Article 1

The following expressions shall mean the application of the provisions of this Law

Each side:

Law: The Biological Safety Act for Genetically Modified Organisms and their Products.

Minister: Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform

Competent: Any ministry, institution, body or public body concerned with the application of the provisions of the law as may be the case.

Committee: The National Committee for Biosafety is associated with the Minister.

Person: natural or legal person, including agents and representatives.

Main Inspector: Expert in the field of genetic engineering and safety called the Committee.

Inspector: A competent technician who performs the tasks assigned by the Ministry or by the competent authority.

Genetic engineering: Modern (non-traditional) biological techniques used to modify genetic material.

Genetically Modified Organisms: Living Techniques whose genetic material has been modified by the use of genetic engineering.

Modified genetic material: genetic material is modified by the use of genetic engineering.

The Biosafety Information Exchange Room: The International System for the Exchange of Information on Modified Organisms and their Products in accordance with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

The Cartagena Protocol: A protocol within the framework of the International Convention on Biological Diversity is aimed at ensuring an adequate level of protection for the environment and human health caused by the transfer, domestication and use of genetically modified organisms.

Risk Analysis System: A system of assessment, management and notification of risks posed by the introduction, use and release of genetically modified organisms and their products in the environment.

Location of containment: The closed and isolated place from the open environment in which it takes action to prevent the transmission of genetically modified organisms or their products to the open environment.

Open Environment: Soil, water, air and living organisms present in them.

Certified Detective: An informant or more assigned by the Committee to carry out the analyses, tests and measurements of genetically modified organisms in accordance with the provisions of this Law.

Biosafety: Policies, instructions and procedures for the safe use and use of genetically modified organisms or their products.

Dispatch: A quantity of plants, their parts, animals, genetically modified microorganisms or their products are transported from one country to another, when required, with a healthy vegetable or veterinary certificate, as is the case and may consist of one or more commodities.

Transmissions: Dispatch is not imported into Syria, but it crosses its territory and is subject to official control procedures to ensure that it is kept closed without being partitioned or added to other shipments.

Prior approval: Approval issued by the Ministry or by the competent authority to authorize the importation, transfer and domestication of plants, animals, genetically modified organisms or microorganisms, in accordance with the health requirements of plants and animals adopted by the Ministry for the Ministry of Economy and Trade To grant import leave.

Import leave: a book issued by the Ministry of Economy and Trade that allows the importation of plants, animals, genetically modified microorganisms or their ganja on the basis of prior consent.

A statement card: A identification card for a genetically modified product containing clear and explicit information written on the packaging and the container is not removable and modified by the product according to the requirements of the article and determined by decision of the minister or the competent authority.

Chapter II

Objectives

Article 2

This Act is intended to:

a. Ensure a safe level of human, animal, plant and environmental health by establishing controls for the introduction, removal, transport, production, domestication and use of organisms and genetically modified organisms and their products.

b. To contribute to the development of a regulatory framework for research and development in the field of genetic engineering.

Chapter III

Application fields

Article 3

1. This Act shall apply to:

a. Genetically modified organisms, include plants, animals, microorganisms prepared for research and experiments, or for agricultural or industrial production in the place of containment.

b. Genetically modified organisms for release in ecosystems and agriculture.

c. Non-living products of genetically modified organisms produced locally or imported and prepared for industrial production or for human or animal consumption (raw or manufactured).

2. Excludes from the application of the provisions of this Law:

a. Genetically modified organisms and their products intended for medicinal and therapeutic purposes or for the production of medicinal and pharmaceutical substances in the place of containment for the purpose of human or veterinary use and subject to the regulations of the Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Agrarian Reform.

b. Materials or products containing genetically modified components are less than the operational instructions.

Chapter IV

Minister's powers

Article 4

The Minister shall issue decisions and executive instructions to apply the provisions of this Law in conformity with the international conventions on the production, use, transfer and dissemination of genetically modified organisms and their products, and to this effect:

a. To prevent or restrict the import, export, sale, cultivation, propagation, deployment or transfer of a genetically modified organism or its products upon the proposal of the Committee.

b. Organization of control, inspection, seizure and seizure procedures, and the identification of approved laboratories for the necessary analysis and the system of interception of results based on the proposal of the Committee.

c. Identification of conditions for the introduction, removal, transfer, production, circulation and use of genetically modified organisms and their products in coordination with the competent authority and the granting of prior consent upon the proposal of the Committee.

Dr. determination of the remuneration of services and procedures provided for in this article in agreement with the Minister of Finance.

Chapter V

National Commission for Biosafety

Article 5

a. The Committee shall be formed by a decision of the Minister from competent experts to be designated by the competent authority and shall consist of:

-Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform

-Associate Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, member and vice-president

-Ministry of Higher Education (representative of Syrian government universities) Member

-Representative of the Ministry of Health Member

Representative of the Ministry of Economy and Trade Member

-Representative of the Ministry of Industry

Representative of the Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs Member

-Representative of the Atomic Energy Authority

-Representative of the General Board of Biotechnology

-Representative of the Centre for Scientific Studies and Research as a member

-Representative of the Directorate General of Customs

Representative of the General Federation of Peasants Member

-Representative of the veterinarian syndicate member

Representative of the General Organization for Agricultural Scientific Research, member and Rapporteur

b. Functions of the Committee

1. Development of vital safety policies in the Syrian Arab Republic.

2. Develop and update the critical safety rules for the introduction, removal, transfer, production, circulation and use of genetically modified organisms and their products in scientific research, development and testing at the location of containment and in the open environment.

3. Develop the principles of risk analysis and determination of critical safety levels.

4. Grant approval for genetic engineering research and experiments in containment and supervision of field trials and launch in the environment.

5. Designation of experts from and outside the Committee as key inspectors.

6. To instruct key inspectors to verify whether enterprises operating in the field of genetic engineering are bound by the rules and instructions approved by the Commission to grant, deny or extend the approval of the work and inform the Committee of the outcome.

7. Propose the issuance of prior consent, registration and certification in accordance with the provisions of the Executive Instructions issued by the Minister.

8. Formation of specialized committees to review and study GMOs and their products as needed.

9. Issue an annual report on activities related to genetically modified organisms and their products distributed to the competent authorities.

10. Provide scientific and technical advice to the Ministry and the competent authorities.

11. Make sure that the vital and institutional safety committees are committed to implementing the vital safety rules.

c. Committee's working mechanism:

1. The working method of the Commission and its meetings shall be determined by the executive instructions of this Act.

2. The Committee shall meet at the invitation of its President periodically once every three months or whenever the need arises.

3. The meeting of the Commission shall be legal in the presence of the President or Vice-President and the majority of the members, and its decisions shall be taken by the majority of the members of the Committee and if the votes are likely by the President

4. The Chairperson of the Committee may invite a professional expert to attend its meetings and have an advisory opinion.

Dr. The Committee's compensation shall be determined by decision of the Minister in agreement with the Minister of Finance and acting from the appropriations allocated to the Ministry in the budget of the Ministry.

Chapter VI

Committee on Biological and Humanitarian Safety

Article 6

a. The formation of the institutional critical safety committees of the Ministry and the competent authorities, as required by a decision of the Minister or the competent authority.

b. Its mission is to study students entering, directing and trading genetically modified organisms and their products intended for agricultural use, human or animal consumption, or industry according to the models adopted in the ministry, and raise their suggestions to the committee.

Chapter VII

Responsibility for implementation

Article 7

The Ministry and the following competent authorities are charged with the tasks outlined in each of them:

a. Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform: Follow up implementation of all genetically modified organisms and their products prepared for human consumption and agricultural (plant and animal) use, veterinary and feed.

b. The Ministry of Economy and Trade has prepared and implemented legislation on foreign trade provisions, fraud, fraud, consumer protection, property protection and food safety for genetically modified organisms and their products according to their authority.

c. Ministry of Health: Take all control over the control and use of genetically modified organisms and their products for human food, medical or therapeutic use or for pharmacological manufacture in the place of containment and assessment of potential impacts on human health.

Dr. Ministry of State for the Environment: Implementation of all GMOs and their products prepared for bioenvironmental remediation, study of the impact of GMOs on the environment in collaboration with the competent authority, management of the Biosafety Information Exchange Room, and Ministries and competent law enforcement bodies to provide the Ministry of the State for the Environment with information on the circulation, products and effects of genetically modified organisms and their products and the procedures and decisions taken.

e. Ministry of Industry: Follow-up to the issuance of specifications for genetically modified organisms and their products prepared for human consumption, animal use, feed, control and issuance of corresponding certificates after the approval of the Commission.

And. Ministry of Higher Education (Public Authority for Biotechnology): Regulatory foundations for research and development are future plans for bio-safety in coordination with research institutions in accordance with the provisions of Law no. 33 of 2002.

g. General Directorate of Customs: Implementation of the provisions of this Law in coordination with the Ministry and the competent authority.

Article 8

The competent authority shall make the necessary decisions regarding its responsibilities to implement the provisions of this Act.

Article 9

Commissioners for the judicial officer:

a. The chief inspector and inspectors, who are designated by the minister or the competent authority as the case may be, are competent and authorized to regulate the octopus necessary for the right of offenders after being sworn in by the President of the Civil Start Court in their area of work, as follows:

(I swear to God Almighty to do my job with all honesty and sincerity).

b. The duties of the Commissioners shall be determined by the judicial officer and the manner of their operation by decision of the Minister or by the competent authority, as may be the case.

Chapter VIII

Safety Requirements

Article 10

It is prohibited for any person to engage in any activity related to genetically modified organisms and their products without prior approval from the Ministry or the competent authority in accordance with the provisions of this Law.

Article 11

The Ministry and the competent entity are committed to the application of the risk avoidance system for the activities related to genetically modified organisms and their products and shall have to stop any activity that is contrary to the Committee's proposal.

Article 12

A person exercising any activity relating to genetically modified organisms and their products shall be responsible for the risks and damages caused by them, including collection, re-export, destruction, extermination or control in accordance with the Committee, and shall be informed of the Ministry or the competent authority With the damage caused by its products or imports.

Article 13

a. The advertising or promotion of genetically modified organisms or their products is prohibited prior to obtaining prior approval from the Ministry or the competent authority as may be the case.

b. The advertising or promotion of products is prohibited by the fact that they are genetically modified only after obtaining a document to prove it from the ministry or the competent authority, as the case may be.

c. The author is responsible for the error caused by the advertising or promotion of the genetically modified product if the information is false or misleading according to the laws and regulations in force.

Chapter IX

Observation and inspection of genetically modified organisms

And their products at the border ports.

Article 14

The Directorate General of Customs is taking the necessary measures to ensure that the provisions of this Act apply during the entry into or transit through genetically modified organisms or their products into the Syrian Arab Republic.

Article 15

Genetically modified organisms and their products are subject to surveillance, inspection and withdrawal of samples by qualified plant and veterinary quarantine inspectors for this purpose in the ports of entry, except for the purpose of scientific research in the public sector only after approval. Prior.

Article 16

a. In case of violation of the provisions of this law and its executive instructions, the importer is required to re-export or destroy them within two weeks as a maximum of the date of notification of the rejection according to the laws and regulations in force, and the General Administration of Customs is aware of this to take the necessary measures from Before her.

b. The appellant is entitled to object to the decision of rejection and to request re-testing according to the executive instructions issued on the basis of the provisions of this Act.

Rule 17

The importer shall bear the responsibility and costs resulting from the actions taken pursuant to the provisions of this Law, including the costs of testing, loading, unloading, transportation, re-export, retesting, destruction and extermination.

Chapter X

Monitoring and inspection within the Syrian Arab Republic

Rule 18

The procedures shall determine the control of scientific research institutions in accordance with instructions issued by the Committee.

Rule 19

Samples of materials, objects and products are taken and analyzed according to the instructions given by the Committee.

Rule 20

The minutes of the seizure of suspected samples from the main inspectors or the inspectors are organized and the amount from which the sample is taken is reserved until the result is issued, and if the violation is established, assets will be handed over to one of the approved warehouses to be determined by the Committee until the necessary decision is issued. concerning her from the Minister based on the Committee's proposal.

Rule 21

The Ministry and the competent authority in cooperation with the Ministry of State for the Environment study and monitor the impact of genetically modified organisms and their products on the environment.

Chapter XI

Contraventions

Rule 22

This Act is contrary to the provisions of this Act:

a. Any activity related to the production of genetically modified organisms and their products without prior approval from the Ministry or the competent authority shall be imported, produced, exported, exported, stored, transferred or exercised.

b. The product or statement card did not specify the information required for GMOs and their products or the information that was authorized on the card was different to reality or submitted documents that were inconsistent with laboratory analysis.

c. Promoted, higher or contributed to the dissemination of information or provided a false description of the camouflage that the substance is not genetically modified.

Dr. The work of the Commissioners was hampered by the judicial officer while carrying out the tasks assigned to them in accordance with the instructions in force.

e. Amended, falsified, distorted, or damaged any document issued under the provisions of this Act.

And. The decisions and instructions issued have not complied with the provisions of this Act.

Chapter XII

Sanctions

Rule 23

Bearing in mind the absence of prejudice to the most severe penalties provided for in other laws, the provisions of this Act are punishable by the following penalties:

a. It is punishable by imprisonment from three months to one year and a fine of 100,000 Syrian pounds to 500,000 Syrian pounds, or one of these penalties, in violation of the provisions set out in article 22, paragraphs (a-b-c), of this law.

b. The penalty is punishable by imprisonment from one month to two months and a fine of 5,000 Syrian pounds to 25 thousand Syrian pounds, or one of these penalties, in violation of the provisions set out in article 22, paragraphs (d), of this law.

c. The penalty is punishable by imprisonment from two months to one year and a fine of 10,000 Syrian pounds to 50,000 Syrian pounds or one of these penalties, in violation of the provisions set out in article 22, paragraph (e), of this Law.

Dr. The penalty is doubled if the offense is repeated

e. These fines are for the public treasury of the state.

Chapter XIII

General and final provisions

Rule 24

a. The allowances of services and compensation to be charged by the Ministry for the implementation of the provisions of this Act shall be determined by the Minister's decision to deal with the Minister of Finance.

b. The wages of the lists of genetically modified organisms and their products shall be determined by decision of the Minister in agreement with the Minister of Finance and shall be met from the importer.

c. The remuneration of lists held outside the official working hours of genetically modified organisms and their products by the committees formed for this purpose shall be distributed as follows:

1. 90 % revenue for the general treasury of the state.

2. 10 % for employees and shareholders in related bakery.

The basis for distribution and the rules of grants and blocking is determined by decision of the minister after the agreement with the Minister of Finance.

Rule 25

The employees of the Ministry and the competent authorities whose work is related to the application of the provisions of this Law shall be granted encouragement by decision of the Minister or by the competent authority on the balance sheet.

Rule 26

The Ministry is the focal point for the implementation of the provisions of this Act.

Rule 27

This Act shall be published in the Official Journal and shall be operative one year after the date of its promulgation.

Damascus 2-12-1434 A.H., 18-10-2012 My birth.

President
Bashar al-Assad

mz

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