Temasek Life Science Laboratory THE GMAC MAIN COMMITTEE

The Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC) was established under the purview of the Ministry of Trade and Industry in April 1999 to oversee and advise on the research and development, production, use and handling of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Singapore.

The Committee is currently chaired by Dr Hong Yan from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and consists of members drawn from 10 agencies/institutions. Each member of GMAC contributes a different area of expertise to the committee, thereby enabling GMAC to make decisions based on holistic views of issues related to genetic modification.

The Terms of Reference for the Genetic Modification Advisory Committee are:

    • To advise and recommend for approval, or otherwise, the research and development, production, use and handling of Genetically Modified Organisms (“GMOs”).
    • To monitor and oversee the release of GMOs into the environment.
    • To review proposals related to the release of GMOs into the environment. Where appropriate, GMAC will establish subcommittees of experts in specific areas to conduct risk assessment.
    • To provide advice on matters relating to the release of GMOs.
    • To inform the public, where deemed necessary by the GMAC, on planned release(s) of GMOs.
    • To establish mechanisms for exchange of information with overseas agencies and to facilitate the harmonization of guidelines with regional and international guidelines.
    • To develop and approve biosafety guidelines for the research and development, production, use and handling of GMOs.

The composition of the committee is as follows:

Name Role in GMAC Designation Organization
Dr Hong Yan  Chair Senior Lecturer
School of Biological Sciences 		 Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
A/Prof Raymond Lin Deputy Chair Senior Consultant
Department of Laboratory Medicine		 National University Hospital (NUH)
A/Prof Lau On Sun Member Associate Professor & Assistant Head (Research and Graduate Matters)
Department of Biological Sciences		 National University of Singapore (NUS)
Dr Yin Zhongchao Member Senior Principal Investigator Molecular Plant Pathology Group Temasek Life Science Laboratory
Dr Kelvin Ng Member Director (Coordination) Nucleic Acid Therapeutics Initiative Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Dr Prakash Arumugam Member Principal Scientist II Strain Engineering Department Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI) Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
A/Prof Jonathan Loh Member Research Director
Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB)		 Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Mr Boyi Zhou Member Deputy Director
Biodiversity (Terrestrial)
National Biodiversity Centre		 National Parks Board (NParks)
Ms Soo Sze Mun Member Senior Principal Specialist (Occupational Hygiene)
OSH Specialist Department		 Ministry of Health (MOH)
Ms Relus Kek Member Lead Manager Biosafety Branch Ministry of Health (MOH)
Mr Low Teng Yong Member Director
Risk Assessment and Communications Department
National Centre for Food Science		 Singapore Food Agency (SFA)
Mr Dexter Tay Member Executive Director Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE)
Dr Hermann Broll International Advisor Science Director German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR)