Angola: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual

Angola currently does not allow the production of genetically engineered (GE) plants or animals. Food aid imports containing GE ingredients are permitted with certain conditions. In December 2004, Angola’s Council of Ministers approved a decree prohibiting production and importation of genetically engineered GE crops. The decree stated that it would serve as a provisional measure until the establishment of a comprehensive national biosafety system could be established to control the importation, use, and eventual production of GE organisms in the country. Twenty years later, no system has been established. However, there are indications that efforts to develop a framework may be gaining slow momentum. Presidential Order 158/24 of July 16, 2024, established the Committee on Genetically Modified Seeds with the aim of creating a biosafety system with standards and inspection mechanisms.