The National Biosafety Authority – NBA has granted four companies new permits to import products that may contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
NBA Chairperson Dr. Paul Zambezi explained that the permits have been granted to Gatbro Distributors, Pick n Pay, Southern National Import and Export Limited and Choppies Super Stores market.
Dr. Zambezi stated that following a Board decision at the just ended Board meeting held on 5th July 2019 in Lusaka. The NBA board has approved the granting of the permits to the four companies.
In May 2019, the Scientific Advisory Committee of the NBA recommended to the Board the issuance of permits after risk assessment was conducted on the products that may contain GMOs and were found to be safe for human consumption.
Among the products which Gatbro intends to import include Bokomo Oates, Pro-Nutro instant porridge, Bokomo Cornflakes, Bisto and Knorr soups, Simba Doritos, Bakers snack time, Cheese and some other white label branded products which may contain GMOs among others.
In a statement made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Dr. Zambezi further said products which have been allowed to be on the Zambian market by the authority have been established to be safe for consumers but reiterated that as food safety is important, the authority will not allow any food or feed which is not safe for either human consumption nor for as animal feed to be on the market.
“As the NBA we would like to reiterate that food safety is very important and we cannot allow any food or feed which is not safe for human consumption nor for use as animal feed to be on the market. As such products which have been allowed to be on the Zambian market by the NBA have been established to be safe for consumers by the scientific advisory committee” Dr. Zambezi said.
He added that the authority is currently reviewing other permits applications, which are at various stages of processing. The public will be informed and that all these products are labeled to say that they ‘may contain GMOs’.
Members of the public have expressed concern on the ability of equipment and adequate scientific know how to fully test and track the effects of consumption of imported products which contain GMOs. Others have challenged local manufacturers to produce alternative organic local products so that consumers can make the decision on weather to consume these imported GMO containing products.
