Mauritius will implement a national biosafety framework on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to ensure that the health of the population and the environment are not put in danger, Agro-Industry and Food Production Minister Satish Faugoo announced on Thursday.

At a workshop organized with the support of the United Nations Environment Programme and Global Environment Facility in Port Louis, Faugoo said GMO crops can be part of the answer in global food security but people must know what they are eating.

He said there is a lingering fear in the public about GMO foods although such concerns are mainly a lack of proper public awareness and information on such foods. He said the government has the responsibility to ensure that the benefits of GMO products outweigh the risks of producing and consuming them.