Competent National Authority

Competent National Authority

The Biosafety Act designated the Swaziland Environment Authority (SEA) as the Competent National Authority (CNA). Key responsibilities include overall responsibility for implementation and the administration of the Act and any instruments developed under it. In particular, responsibilities of SEA as NCA include:

• Receiving applications for GMO applications
• Communicating decisions on applications
• Establishing mechanisms for storage of documents related to applications under the act
• Promote public awareness and public participation on activities around implementation of the Act
• Identify priorities for scientific and technological research to enable Swaziland to meet her goals of
• Ensuring integration of safe application of biotechnology into national development planning and recommendation of measures for harmonisation of cross-sectoral plans and policies for safe application of biotechnology
• Develop measures to prevent adverse effects of modern biotechnology on the environment, biological diversity, human health and the socio-economic conditions arising from GMOs.