NO PERMIT TO PLACE GMO MEALIE MEAL ON THE MARKET WAS APPROVED-NBA

NO PERMIT TO PLACE GMO MEALIE MEAL ON THE MARKET WAS APPROVED-NBA

...Eagles Holding Milling is among the 64 companies which were given authorisation to transit mealie meal which may contain GMOs to neighboring DRC.

By Alfonso Kasongo

The agency regulating the use and development of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) in Zambia ,the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) says that it has never approved any permit application for the importation and placing on the market of mealie meal which may contain GMOs.

But a letter originated by ministry of agriculture Permanent Secretary for administration Yvonne Mpundu to Eagles Holding Milling company,  suggests that the ministry has issued an import permit to the milling company to import into Zambia 226 metric tons of mealie meal suspected to have been produced from GMO maize from South Africa, in an effort to  advert commodity shortages in the country.

This is amid serious controversy and confusion; a move that many local stakeholders arguably feel is misaligned with Zambia’s biosafety laws and policies, historical precedence, public opinion and due diligence. 

In a letter dated January, 22, 2023 copied to concerned heads of government quasi institutions including the Revenue Authority, ZNS and Zambia Police, the Permanent Secretary indicated that the consignments will enter the country from South Africa through Kazungula and Chirundu boarders.

It is reported that between October 8 -14, 2023, government organised a trip to South Africa led by Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet in charge of Finance and Economic Development, Siazongo Siakalenge to make arrangements for the importation.

According to media reports, Mr. Siakalenge, in his notice to the team members who accompanied him, stated that government was "arranging to put in place a mealie meal importation programme for the next 10 months in order to avert  mealie meal shortages in the country."

 Meanwhile the NBA confirms that it has never approved and issued Eagles Holding Milling, any permit to place on the market,mealie meal that may contain GMOs.

The Authority Public Relations Officer Sandra Lombe discloses that Eagle Holding Milling ,a  Zambia National Service (ZNS) owned Milling is among the 64 companies which were granted authorisation to transit the GMO mealie meal from South Africa to neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) last year.
Sandra Lombe-Public Relations Officer-NBA

"The Authority has not approved any permit application for the importation and placing on the market of mealie meal which may contain GMOs. 
However, the Authority has issued transit permits for mealie meal which may contain GMOs,"Ms Lombe says.

In June, 2023,NBA cleared the controversial importation of GMO mealie meal from South Africa into the country declaring  the stable food safe for human and animal  consumption.

This was in a move by government to import GMO mealie meal from that country to mitigate the mealie meal crisis which rocked the country due to rampant smuggling into neighbouring countries.

Last year,the government through agriculture Minister, Mtolo Phiri assured the country that it is food secure having stocked about 1.2 million metric tons of maize in the strategic reserves planned to run upto the end of 2Last year

And in clarifying government's intentions to import GMO mealie meal from South Africa, last year, NBA Scientific Advisory Committee Chairperson Dr. Sody Munsaka said the product is safe for human and animal consumption adding that the Authority, working together with the Ministry of Agriculture, has been notifying anyone importing mealie meal or any other products which may contain GMOs on the need to obtain authorization from the NBA. 

Dr. Sody Musaka-Chairperson Scientific Advisory Committee

“We have conducted risk assessments on soya beans and all maize varieties from South Africa and these have been found to be safe for humans, animals and the environment. Therefore, all products including mealie meal produced from the assessed maize varieties are safe for human and animal consumption,”  Dr. Musaka said.

Dr. Musaka added ...“among the products containing GMO maize or Soya beans from South Africa that the Authority has permitted into the country include cornflakes, some soups such as Bisto, premixes, spices, some biscuits, Starch, maize grit and dog food.” 

Risk Assessment is the process through which the Scientific Advisory Committee ascertains the safety of products before the Authority grants a permit or rejects an application. “Therefore, we would like to assure the general public that the mealie meal from the assessed maize by the Scientific Advisory Committee is safe, even if it is spilled or dropped in the country or people accidentally consumed it, it cannot cause any harm based on the comfort ascertained through risk assessment. 

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