NBA allows 4 firms to import GMO products
Written by Millennium on July 9, 2019
BUUMBA CHIMBULU writes
FOUR companies have been granted new permits to import products that may contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs), says Biosafety Authority (NBA).
The four companies are Gatbro Distributors, Pick n Pay, Southern National Import and Export Limited and Choppies Super Stores market.
NBA Chairperson Paul Zambezi said the decision was made by the board at the just-ended board meeting held on July 5 in Lusaka.
Dr Zambezi said in a statement yesterday that the products were safe for human consumption as they had undergone risk assessment.
“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,” Dr Zambezi said.
Since the beginning of this year, he said, the authority had renewed six permits to place on the market products which may contain GMOs.
The NBA was currently reviewing other permit applications which were at various stages.
Meanwhile, the NBA has granted 45 permits for imports and placing on the market products that may contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
The six are Cold Chain, Zambian Brands, Comox Trading Limited, Horizon Distributors and Innscor Distributors.
