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The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has clarified that it has not confiscated any mealie meal or products which may contain Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) this year.
According to the NBA, it confiscated the said mealie meal containing GMOs currently circulating in a video on social media is an old clip of 2020, stating the mealie meal came into the country without authorisation from them.
“The video which is circulating in the media purporting the incidence to have happened this week is an old report of 2020,” according to NBA in a statement issued on Sunday.
Read more: Zambia Biosafety agency assures on GMO foods that may be imported, as concerns raised
It explained that the mealie meal in question was seized because it was placed on the market without a permit and risk assessment had not been concluded.
The Biosafety Act No.10 of 2007 in Part III Section 10 states that a person will not on, develop, produce, import, export, transit, carry out any contained use without approval from the authority.
It also states that no person will release or place on the market any GMO or any of a GMO or deal in any manner with any GMO of a product of a GMO without prior approval of the authority.
“The Act also states that any approval or authorisation done by the authority for any activity relating to any GMO or any product of any GMO will be through the issuance of a permit.
“As such the mealie meal in question was seized because it was placed on the market without a permit and risk assessment had not been concluded,” NBA said.
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