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The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has approved a clinical trial for an HIV vaccine to be conducted by the Centre for Health Research in Zambia (CFHRZ).
The experimental vaccine will be administered to People Living with HIV (PLWH) as part of the research.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, NBA Communications Officer, Sandra Lombe, said the permit was granted during an extraordinary board meeting held last week.
Authority Chief Executive Officer, Lackson Tonga, stated that the permit is valid for three years and comes after a risk assessment by the Scientific Advisory Committee, which concluded that the vaccine posed low risks to human health, animals, and the environment.
“The NBA will monitor the research trial to ensure compliance,” Tonga added.
On the genetically modified organisms (GMOs), the Authority stated that they issued 39 permits for products that may contain GMOs.
Of these, seven were for imports, while the rest were for placing GMO products on the Zambian market.
Additionally, the NBA granted 52 transit permits compared to 64 in 2023, facilitating the transit of 190,237 metric tonnes of mealie meal potentially containing GMOs, mostly destined for the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Tonga also highlighted the issuance of 66 non-GMO certificates for companies exporting various grain commodities.
However, the authority recorded non-compliance cases, leading to the seizure and destruction of unauthorized GMO products, including mealie meal and some soups.
The Authority intensified on-spot checks across the country, collecting 152 samples of agricultural produce and products, all of which tested as non-GMO.
Additionally, the authority claimed it conducted 20 surveillance operations, achieving an 80 percent compliance rate.
“We finalized guidelines on genome editing, stacked genes, and compliance enforcement. These measures will enhance our regulatory activities regarding GMOs and related products,” Tonga stated.
He said the Authority’s efforts aimed to improve compliance, strengthen enforcement, and support biosafety initiatives in Zambia.
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