Before the National Biosafety Board (NBB) makes any decision on the application for approval of LMO or LMO products, a public consultation must be made. This condition is to comply with the provisions under the Biosafety Act 2007 [Section 14 (c) and Section 16 (3)]. Public consultations are made for field test applications as well as all other releases (supplies or offers to supply for sale or put in the market etc.) involving LMO and LMO products.
Decision of the National Biosafety Board for approval application based on:
a. recommendations from GMAC;
b. feedback from relevant Government agencies; and
c. public consultation.
Public Consultation Announcement
The announcement on public consultation be made in the form of a notice of standards and published at least four newspapers that use the primary language (ie the newspaper Malay, an English newspaper, the newspaper Tamil and one newspaper in Mandarin) who have national coverage (notices in newspapers Tamil and Mandarin Chinese will use the national language, Bahasa Melayu).
Notice will be made 2 times in the newspaper chosen by the applicant with an interval of 2 weeks [e.g. 1 January 2019 (first announcement), and 15 January 2019 (second announcement)].
Notice and Fact Sheet on the application will be posted on the website of the Department of Biosafety (www.biosafety.gov.my) to invite the public to provide feedback.
Invitations for public consultations will also be included in other Department of Biosafety social media platforms:
Facebook
Twitter
Information provided for Public Consultation
Information regarding the activities proposed by the applicant will be included in the Fact Sheet (in Bahasa Melayu and English) as a public address. The information provided includes:
a. Purpose and description of activities in the application
b. A description of how living organisms are modified
c. Characteristics of modified living organisms
d. Risk assessment to human health
e. Risk assessment to the environment and biodiversity
f. Description of emergency response plan
Involvement in Public Consultations
Any member of the public may make comments, views or submit inquiries on the information disseminated to the public in connection with an application. Before submitting comments, views or questions, one should review the information provided about the application in the Fact Sheet.
Comments, views and inquiries on possible effects/risks on human health and safety and the environment that may be caused by such emissions are greatly appreciated. Comments/views/questions submitted must be prepared carefully as they will be given the same emphasis as with the application by the National Biosafety Board (LBK). Even if the comments/views/questions are not based on science and instead focus on other cultures or values, they still need to be provided in the form of a reasonable argument.
People who send comments/views/questions must state full name, address and contact details so that comments/views/inquiries sent are accepted by the Biosafety Department.
Reviews, views and questions in writing should be sent to:
Director General
Department of Biosafety
Ministry Of Nature Resources and Nature Sustainability
Level 4, Block F11, Complex F
Lebuh Perdana Timur, Precinct 1
Federal Government Administrative Centre
62000 Putrajaya, Malaysia
E-mel: dob@biosafety.gov.my
The time period for receiving public comments is for 30 days from the date the first announcement is made.
Action taken after receiving comments, views and inquiries through Public Consultation
Any inquiries will be forwarded to the applicant and feedback will be provided within 7 days through the Department of Biosafety.
All comments/views received during the public consultation period will be collected and forwarded to the National Biosafety Board for consideration during decision making.
EN 
MS