FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
NIGERIA NATIONAL BIOSAFETY COMMUNICATION STRATEGY
August, 2018
Contents
Chapter 2 Objective of the Strategy. 3
Chapter 3 Biosafety Communication strategy. 3
3.1 The Scope of the Biosafety Communication strategy. 3
3.2 Nigeria National Biosafety Communication Charter. 4
3.4 Biosafety Communication Key Messages. 7
3.5 Communication Pathways. 11
3.7 Stakeholders Information Needs. 13
3.8 Consultation on Applications. 16
3.9 Biosafety Communication Officer: 16
Effective Biosafety communication is an integral component of Biosafety Risk analysis. Biosafety communication is the ‘culture, processes and structures to communicate and consult with stakeholders about biosafety’. Such exchanges may not relate exclusively to risk but may also consist of expression of concerns, opinions or reactions to socioeconomic impact and risk messages or to legal or institutional arrangements for risk management.
The National Biosafety Management Agency is neither a proponent for nor opponent of modern biotechnology but an impartial regulatory Agency that is required to communicate to the Government and people on matters relating to the risk assessment and risk management of GMOs.
The National Biosafety Management Agency is committed to providing information to interested parties on applications, permits, dealings with GMOs, trial sites and the processes of risk assessment, risk management, monitoring, Inspection and compliance undertaken. The primary mechanism for providing information about the National Biosafety Management Agency to interested public is through the National Biosafety Management Agency website that would contain extensive information on the operations of the National Biosafety Management Agency, including various application forms, Regulations and Guidelines and GMOs Records, press briefing, news bulletin, risk assessment documents, decision documents, the annual report and direct response to e-mail and phone calls, seminars, workshops and direct interaction. Documents that provide essential background information for the National Biosafety Management Agency, such as the biology of plant species that have been modified by modern biotechnology, are also to be available on the website and at the office.
The Agency annual reports provide details on applications considered, monitoring activities undertaken, they also summarize other activities of the National Biosafety Management Agency in relation to reviews, research, freedom of information requests.
In addition, the National Biosafety Management Agency would provide regular workshops for Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBCs) on particular administrative matters and to help them and applicants recognize particular categories of dealings. The National Biosafety Management Agency would have regular contact with applicants on a range of matters, both scientific and administrative. The National Biosafety Management Agency would endeavor to foster a cooperative compliance culture, educating and informing applicants to minimize the likelihood of breaches of the legislation and subsequent application of penalties under the Act for non-compliance.
The Agency would provide information on the regulation of modern biotechnology. The aim of this biosafety communication strategy is to promote a clear understanding of all aspects of risk and the particular positions of interested parties. Specifically, it aims to provide information about risk to make decisions, to minimize conflicts, to improve understanding of perceptions and positions, and to achieve equitable outcomes. It is to provide all parties with a better understanding of the issues; it is not to change basic values and beliefs.
This strategy focuses on risk perception and outlines consultative processes between stakeholders and the National Biosafety Management Agency. It demonstrates the National Biosafety Management Agency’s commitment to effective communication with stakeholders.
Public perceptions of the risks associated with modern biotechnology range across a wide spectrum of positions and include ethical concerns such as ‘meddling with nature’ and social issues which require public education.
The Objective is to keep stakeholders informed about national biosafety process, address concerns about modern biotechnology and products of modern biotechnology which are genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as relate to safety.
It is to assist regulators to acknowledge and address concerns raised by stakeholders and the public. The ultimate focus is to clarify misconceptions and promote a clear understanding of biosafety and modern biotechnology processes and procedures from product development to pre- and post-market, commercialization.
There are two major areas of this biosafety communication strategy:
Communication on the biosafety regulation includes providing information on the National biosafety policy, laws guidelines, how stakeholders are to participate in their development, how the applications are accessed and implementation. This is to increase the awareness on how assessment is done, how safety, benefits and risks are reviewed by the regulatory authority
The communication strategy would strengthen outline consultative processes that would improve the general understanding of the thoroughness of safety assessments for transgenic products, as well as the effectiveness of the national biosafety framework to ensure access to safe products and control of unsafe products. It is also to foster good communication of well-informed decisions built on confidence in the biosafety process and help to influence the public acceptance of approved products.
The scope shall include the following:
Effective risk communication requires the active participation of all stakeholders, including government. This charter presents the principles of Biosafety communication that the National Biosafety Management Agency aims to uphold and demonstrates its commitment to active biosafety communication. It shall be the responsibility of the National Biosafety Management Agency National Biosafety Management Agency to provide transparent, factual and timely information to stakeholders so as to build trust and earn the confidence of the Nigerian public.
The National Biosafety Communication Strategy bases its Charter on:
Public perceptions of the risks associated with modern biotechnology range across a wide spectrum of positions and include ethical concerns such as ‘meddling with nature’ and social issues. One of the reasons that the biosafety regulatory framework was established was in response to public concerns about modern biotechnology and an associated desire for a nationally consistent, legally enforceable decision-making process. The Nigeria National Biosafety legislation is consistent with international trends for regulatory systems to incorporate high levels of transparency, accountability and strong enforcement capabilities.
Different organisations and individuals perceive risks in different ways and may have different attitudes to risk. Perception of risk can be influenced by:
Across a spectrum of risk, attitudes can be broadly categorized as risk adverse, risk neutral or risk taking and will be dependent on the specific risk involved.
Generally, the perception of risk by individuals is dependent on a large number of factors including knowledge of the risk, its impact on that individual, the potential for long-term consequences, the potential for widespread effects, the extent to which the individual can influence the risk and possible benefits (if any) that might accrue to individuals, groups or society as a whole. If the risk arises as part of a familiar situation where factors increasing or decreasing the risk are well known and methods to control or reduce the risk are readily available, the risk will probably not be perceived as a threat. If the risk is unknown, there is potential for long-term impact over a wide area, and the individual feels powerless in the situation, the risk is likely to be perceived as high. The availability of information, the knowledge that concerns will be heard, and the opportunity for involvement in decisions are, therefore, all likely to increase the acceptance of risk. Table 1 summarises some of these elements.
Table 1: Factors in the perception of risks as either tolerable or threatening
Tolerable Risks | Threatening Risks |
Voluntary | Involuntary |
Controlled | Uncontrolled |
Familiar | Unfamiliar |
Immediate | Sometime in the future |
Short term | Long term |
Minor consequences | Severe consequences |
Reversible | Irreversible |
Personal involvement | No involvement |
Benefits | Costs |
Risk perception is fundamental to an individual’s acceptance of risk. Therefore, an individual’s perception and assessment of risk is a complex construction involving a number of factors that are weighed and balanced to achieve a final position.
Some factors that may contribute to disagreement in risk assessment and risk management are summarized in Table 2.
Table 2: Sources of conflict in risk assessment and risk management
Sources of conflict | Possible explanations |
Values | The parties have different underlying values, beliefs and views of the world. |
Interests | The parties have different interests: commercial, environmental or social. |
Language | The language that scientists or experts use may not be accessible to stakeholders. |
Knowledge | There are differing views on what is known and not known. |
Lack of transparency or openness | Stakeholders are not provided with relevant or sufficient information or included in the decision-making process. |
Historically, a number of approaches have been employed to gain community understanding and acceptance of certain risks that government or business believe are required for economic prosperity, contribute to society as a whole or are worthwhile in some way, even though some risk may be involved. Stakeholders’ views should be treated with respect as they provide a valid and required input into risk assessment and risk management. The National Biosafety Management Agency recognises and accepts that the community holds many and varying views on gene technology and believes all stakeholders hold legitimate positions.
In terms of risk communication, the Act allows for public consultation during the assessment of permit applications for commercial/general release of Genetically Modified Organisms. The Act therefore provides a direct mechanism for two-way interaction between National Biosafety Management Agency and stakeholders by publishing in national dailies summary permit applications.
The Key messages are the information the National Biosafety Management Agency wishes the public to know about biosafety and modern biotechnology regulatory process and also the public wants to know about its activities and the regulatory process. Different messages which address questions from stakeholders would be distilled by the National Biosafety Management Agency to reflect the most important facts that should be known about biosafety (especially risk assessment) in the country.
The key messages in Nigeria’s Biosafety communication strategy cover one or more of the following:
To promote the basic tenets of biosafety as enunciated in the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and enforce Nigeria National Biosafety Regulatory Regimes to ensure the safe application and use of products of biotechnology
To ensure that the practice, process and procedures of modern biotechnology are undertaken within the limits of a regulatory systems that guarantees its safe use, protection of Nigeria’s biodiversity and with minimal risks to human health and environment.
The Goals of Biosafety are to:
iii. Agricultural sustainability
To be effective, risk communication requires an exchange of knowledge rather than a one-way transfer of information. It is most effective when it is two-way and when there is opportunity for input into decisions. Successful communication requires active involvement; however, in practice, time and resources can limit the extent of dialogue. The National Biosafety Management Agency will allocate greater resources to communication activities where there is a perception of greater risk such as those involving intentional release of GMOs into the environment, in particular, general/commercial releases.
As a continuous background communication process, the National Biosafety Management Agency will provide information that will raise public awareness and proffer answers to concerns. For this aspect of the communication three key elements that will be used to capture the public’s attention:
Information on biosafety would be:
The delivery of information will include the following tools:
The National Biosafety Management Agency will consider the most appropriate language or languages to use, as well as the literacy rates in the targeted stakeholder groups.
Release of GMOs into the Nigerian environment is of significant interest to a wide spectrum of the public, including government, non-government organisations, community-based organizations, businesses, companies and individuals. The form of communication with specific stakeholders and potential constraints on effective communication that need to be addressed for different groups is shown in Table 3.
Table 3: Stakeholders with interests in GMOs
Group | Stakeholders |
Research | Pro/Vice Chancellors R&D of universities, CEOs/Directors of research institutes, research and development corporations, other research groups, |
Industry | Retailers, food and feed industry, proponents of the technology, breweries |
Primary producers | Research Institutions, National and state farmers’ federations, farming organisations (often include industry representation) |
Interest groups | Environmental groups (Environmental Right Action, Friends of the Earth,), consumer groups, health professionals, lobbyists, consultants, regulatory affairs advisors |
Press /Medial Houses | Television stations, Print media, Journalists |
Government | State and local governments, Federal Ministries of Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development (NAQS), Foreign Affairs, Trade and Investment, Health(National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control), Science and Technology(National Biotechnology Development Agency), Consumer Protection Council), Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Airports Authority, Maritime Authority |
Public | Consumers and interested parties |
Table 4: Forms of communication with stakeholders and potential constraints on that communication
Stakeholders | Form of communication | Constraints on effective communication | ||
Applicant | Application form
Informal/formal discussions, Regulations, Guidelines, website, Telephone, email, courier Formal and informal discussions, Commercially Confidential Information application RARMP – consultation and final permit |
Different language styles
Different knowledge base Different interests, values, beliefs Unclear requirements or explanations Lack of understanding Lack of context Uncertainty Limited resources
|
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Experts | Meetings, informal discussions
Letters requesting advice, research information |
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Prescribed agencies | Memoranda of understanding
Informal/formal discussions Letters requesting advice or notification |
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Local councils | Letters requesting advice, | |||
Press/Medial Houses
|
Press release, phone calls, Annual reports, emails, Advertisements
Website |
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Public | telephone number
Advertisements Website Client register |
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The National Biosafety Management Agency would collaborate with other Government Ministries and agencies and stakeholders in biosafety information sharing. To ensure the effectiveness of the National Biosafety Communication Strategy, the following bodies information needs have been identified and grouped as follows:
Group one.
Information needs
Group two.
Information needs
Group three.
Information needs
b Lack of scientific certainty due to insufficient relevant scientific information and knowledge regarding the extent of risk posed by a GMOs to human health, animal and environment shall not prevent the country from taking appropriate decisions on the said GMOs
Group four
Police
Information Needs
Group five
Information Need:
The National Biosafety Management Agency shall provide information to stakeholders, Applicants and other members of the public through any of the above channels on GMOs on dealings, including the aims of genetic modifications, a description of the project, and the date of issue and expiry of the permits.
The process of consultation on permit applications provides an opportunity for stakeholders to have direct input into the decision-making process.
When an application for a commercial permit is received, the National Biosafety Management Agency will notify the public in National and local newspapers, the application dossier will also be placed in the Local Government Headquarters where the release will take place for public review and comments within 21 working days.
As part of the response to stakeholders and to ensure all relevant concerns have been considered, summaries of view would be prepared that identify the issues raised and where they are addressed. Resolution of specific concerns and issues relating to risks to human health and safety and to the environment may involve intensive discussions between the stakeholder and National Biosafety Management Agency. This might require the Agency to seek further information or clarification from the applicant. Before releasing any information on general release for consultation, the National Biosafety Management Agency will determine whether the proposed dealings may pose a significant risk to the health and safety of people or to the environment. The minimum consultation period specified is 21 working days if the National Biosafety Management Agency is satisfied that the dealings do not pose a significant risk. If the National Biosafety Management Agency considers that the proposed dealings may pose significant risk(s), additional period will be allocated.
The consultation then finalized, considering the feedback received in a similar way to feedback on the application to ensure relevant issues of concern are addressed in as much detail as possible and practical. If deficiencies, such as new risks, inaccurate assessments, or better risk management strategies, were identified through the consultation process, the Risk Assessment and Risk Management plan (RARMP) would be updated to address them.
The National Biosafety Management Agency would endeavor to address such concerns through documents such as its Risk Analysis Framework, by providing a detailed outline of the rationale behind the process of risk assessment and risk management undertaken by the National Biosafety Management Agency and by making the documents underpinning the National Biosafety Management Agency’s decisions readily available.
A Biosafety Communication Unit headed by an Officer shall coordinate the various activities under the Biosafety Communication Strategy. The Coordinator shall work with other Officers in the National Biosafety Management Agency and other stakeholders.
The Coordinator’s Information details shall be made available in the press and to Collaborative Agencies:
General Comments: