KUALA LUMPUR: Amendments to the Biosafety Act 2007 are expected to be tabled for the first reading in Parliament as early as mid-2026, said acting Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
Johari said a review and amendment of the Act was needed to ensure its continued relevance, taking into account current developments in biotechnology.
He said the amendments would be comprehensive and effective in protecting human, plant, and animal health, the environment, and biodiversity, adding that the ministry would consider views and feedback from relevant stakeholders.
The minister was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (PN-Kubang Kerian), who asked about the timeline for amending the Act and whether Malaysia’s biosafety policy could regulate new technologies such as CRISPR, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), and industrial biotechnology.
Johari said Malaysia has the capability to regulate and adapt to new technologies, based on its existing policy framework, which includes legislation, technical standards, and an organised institutional framework.
He said Malaysia has been a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity since 1994 and a member of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety since 2003.
This commitment allows the country to stay abreast of current developments and technical discussions related to modern biotechnology.
Johari said the Act is also crucial to ensure that GMO crops or products entering the market are safe for humans and the environment.
He added that his ministry has taken proactive steps to develop enforcement strategies and implement the Act through collaboration with nine enforcement agencies.
The Department of Biosafety is also involved in capacity building to understand issues related to genetic editing technologies, in collaboration with experts from countries with applicable procedures, such as Argentina and the Philippines.
Johari said the department’s officers are also exposed to technological developments by attending relevant courses and training abroad.
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