NBMA drafts guidelines for genome editing

The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has begun drafting of guidelines for the proper regulation of genome editing in Nigeria.

The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Rufus Ebegba, at the guidelines drafting workshop in Abuja, stressed the need for proper guidelines to regulate genome editing, which is an emerging aspect of modern biotechnology.

He stated that the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari saw the need to regulate the sector, which demonstrated strong potential to transform the country’s economy.

“The amendment of the NBMA Act 2015 includes Synthetic Biology, Gene Editing, Gene Drive and Biosecurity. This is aimed at expanding the scope of the agency’s mandate to regulate emerging technologies.