The National Biosafety Authority – NBA has called on butcheries using spices which may contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to clearly label their products so that consumers make informed decisions.
The Authority has also directed bakery owners using ingredients made from or which may contain genetically modified organisms to label them as failure to do so will result in the Authority enforcing provisions of the Biosafety Act.
NBA Chief Executive Officer Lackson Tonga stated that it is important that all products containing ingredients of genetically modified organisms are labelled. “It is a requirement by law that all products which are made from genetically modified organisms or which contain ingredients of GMOs are clearly labelled so that consumers make an informed choice or decision when buying such food products,” he said.
He added that consumers have the right to know what ingredients are in the products they are buying hence labeling them does not indicate that products are dangerous but inform consumers of what they are eating.
According to NBA Communications Officer Sandra Lombe, GMO products or products which may contain GMOs which have been permitted on the Zambian market have been found to be safe for the humans, animals and the environment, after risk assessment was conducted on them.
She said that NBA is pleased that distributors are giving their clients copies of permits to place on the market. “The shops that we inspected on the Copperbelt we found that they had copies of the permits for placing on the market from their suppliers. This is good because some time back we have issued an ultimatum that they should have such documents in their shops, otherwise we would seize their products.”
The Authority is happy with the compliance levels to biosafety standards by the laboratories dealing with GMO products. The NBA during its spot and compliance checks observed that most of the laboratories handling GMO products were adhering to good biosafety standards.
GMO products have been a controversial topic in Zambia with some sections of society stating that Zambia may not have the technical expertise and equipment that is capable of detecting the medium to long term side effects of the consumption. Zambia is said to be a non GMO country and most of the GMO products are imported into the country when they could be organically produced locally.
