• NBA has conducted risk assessments on maize and soya varieties from South Africa.
• The varieties have been found to be safe for human and animal consumption.
• The Authority has previously granted permits for products made from GMO maize.

National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has assured the nation that South African mealie meal produced from Genetically Modified maize is safe for consumption.
NBA Scientific Advisory Committee Chairperson Dr. Sody Munsaka said the Authority has conducted risk assessments on maize and soya varieties from South Africa and have been found to be safe for human and animal consumption.
Dr. Munsaka stated that the Authority is working with other Government institutions to ensure that mealie meal that may contain Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) to be imported and transited through the country is from the maize varieties that have been authorized by the NBA.
He added that working with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Authority has been notifying anyone importing mealie meal or any other products which may contain GMOs on the need to obtain authorization from the NBA.
“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. Munsaka stated.
Dr. Munsaka added that the Authority has previously granted permits for products made from GMO maize or which may contain GMOs to various distributors and traders in the country.
“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, he added.
He further said the mealie meal from the assessed maize by the Scientific Advisory Committee is safe, stating that 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.”
On Sunday, Centre for Environment Justice (CEJ) Board Member Emmanuel Mutamba warned that importation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) will eliminate indigenous crops that are more nutritious.

Mr. Mutamba also said GMOs breed mechanization which transforms small scale farmers from producers to mere laborers working in commercial farms, warning that Zambia will go into mono cropping if it ventures into GMOs, thereby taking away the nation’s indigenous seed.