A dynamic expeditious Biosafety dispute resolving Board in the world.

To provide an efficient and effective process for realization of fair Biosafety dispute resolutions.

The Biosafety Appeals Board is a quasi-judicial body that provides the public with a final administrative review process for appeals relating to a wide range of Biosafety Decisions. The Board draws its mandate from Section 35(1) of the Biosafety Act. The Board is set up to carry out the following functions-

• developing rules for its procedure;
• receiving applications for appeals against decisions of the National Biosafety Authority;
• hearing appeals emanating from the decisions of the National Biosafety Authority;
• making decisions based on the appeals heard;
• pronouncing decisions;
• communicating the decision to the parties;
• publishing its decision for the purpose of disseminating the decision to the public.

The Board hears and decides appeals involving the granting, denial, suspension or revocation of approvals and licenses. The decisions of the board are binding and have the same force of law as a decision made by a court of law.

The mandate of the Appeals Board as defined by the Biosafety Act is to hear appeals from decisions of the National Biosafety Authority. The kind of decision expected to be made by the  NBA include-

• Approving an application to introduce, import, transit, use a GMO;
• Rejection of an application to introduce, import, transit, use a GMO;
• Imposing a condition upon giving an approval
• suspension, cancellation or revocation of approvals;
• stopping activities operations involving GMOS;
• seizing equipment and closing a facility that is carrying out activities involving GMOs without an approval;
• Seizing goods in a facility, plant or vehicle that are suspected to contain GMO and do not have an approval.

Most of the Appeals therefore are expected to emanate from the decisions of the NBA, without whose decisions, there will be limited functioning of the Appeals Board.

In order for the Board to fairly administer its mandate, it is important that a high level of trust and confidence in the independence of the Board is maintained. In achieving its vision, the Board adopted key values and will communicate these values to its stakeholders through the following action statements-

1. Professionalism: In line with the requirements of operation for all officers of this Board as spelt out in the cord of regulations, strict rules shall be followed to process cases before the Board expeditiously, confidentially and honestly
2. Accessibility: In this respect the Board shall have an open door policy to all and be transparent in all it`s operations and dealings with plaintiff, defendant, and witnesses The Board shall be accountable to all stakeholders.
3. Fairness: Guided by informed choices, the Board shall remain ethical in all its dealings with stakeholders. All parties are important to the Board and scales of justice shall prevail and be seen to prevail in all rulings of the Board