The National Biosafety Authority has granted L&A Logistics Limited and Gola Stock Feeds and Chemical Manufacturers Limited permits to import products that may contain genetically modified organisms valid for five years
Following a decision made during the Board meeting held on 20th December 2019, the NBA Board resolved to grant permits to L&A logistics and Gola manufacturers after a risk assessment was conducted by the Scientific Advisory Committee on the two companies’ applications to import products made from genetically modified organisms.
L&A logistics will bring in soups, spices, various brands of spreads, salad dressing, various brands of Rusks and dog food while Gola manufacturers limited will bring in maize grit to be used in making snacks.
The two new permits bring the total number of import permits granted by the Authority in 2019 to seven, including permits granted to Gatbro, Southern National Trade Import and Export Limited, Freddy Hirsch, Pick n Pay and Choppies Superstores.
The Authority has also renewed a total of 23 permits to place on the market products which may contain GMOs.
From 2016 to date the NBA has granted 49 permits for import and placing on the market processed food and feed products, four research permits and issued four Non- GM clearance certificates for export.
And the Authority has observed that the compliance levels were generally impressive for distributors, importers and retailers dealing in products that may contain GMOs.
Particularly, the Authority is happy that the laboratories with activities involving gene modification technology were adhering to the Biosafety standards and the provisions of the Biosafety Act.
“Spot and compliance checks as well as public awareness and sensitisation were conducted at entry points in Northern, Muchinga, Southern, Western, Copperbelt and Lusaka. Generally compliance levels are impressive.”
Meanwhile, the National Biosafety Authority says test results for samples of the mealie meal from South Africa transiting Zambia indicates that the maize used to produce the commodity is genetically modified.
Sandra Lombe the NBA Communications Officer said the unlabelled mealie meal samples collected from the bags destined for the Democratic Republic of Congo have tested positive for GMO.
Ms Lombe said the samples were taken recently at Kazungula border from unlabelled bags of mealie meal from South Africa transiting to DRC.
She said the Authority has advised cross border traders to buy products that may contain genetically modified organisms locally as those on the Zambian market have already undergone risk assessment by the Authority.
“We are also calling on transporters transiting the country with products that may contain GMOs or have ingredients of GMOs to obtain transit permits so that they are not inconvenienced. There are conditions which they have to adhere to. Those exporting non GMO products can also get clearance certification from the NBA.”
Do we need the GMOs, really? Corruption is a serious cancer – Zambia has capacity to grow all these foods but because of poor government policies on agriculture we continue to import when we should have been enriching our own farmers to help them grow even more healthier foods for exports.
What the hell? South Africa, which is approximately 3000 KM from The DRC exports maize and millie meal while us who are a stone’s throw away have failed and continue to fail to benefit from the lucrative Congo markets. Its tough to be a farmer in Zambia; the politicians use you to carry on your back the whole nation while they lazy around.
Levy Patrick Mwanawasa will always be missed when it comes to this subject.
He was a real leader who knew right from wrong. He was very clear he wanted the best for Zambia.
This is what I call abstract organizations duplicating the roles of the existing and functional departments. We have Phyto-sanitary department in the ministry of agriculture at ZARI, responsible for biosafety certification processes in food and non-food products. In the R and D we have a biotechnology research unit at National Scientific and Industrial Research, responsible for DNA- and protein- based genome analyses. The Minister responsible for national biosafety is not thinking. President Lungu disband this organization. We can’t afford to have every small units becoming national quasi organization but wholly supported by government Treasury.
The government should give a clear position on GMOs. Why accept GMOs from other countries? Do we know what organisms were genetically modified? Have we failed to build our own natural food systems?
Those GMOs already on the Zambia market should be clearly labelled so we don’t have to buy them.