GMO importation illegal – Mundubile

…says Biosafety Act of 2007 prohibits importation of GMOs into the country without the authority of the Scientific Advisory Committees’ approval or public consultation

GOVERNMENT could illegally be importing Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) mealie meal if it has not consulted or has bypassed the Biosafety Act of 2007 which instructs that there shall be no importation of GMOs into the country without the authority of the Scientific Advisory Committees’ approval or public consultation, Brian Mundubile has warned.

Government has announced that it will be importing GMO mealie meal from South Africa to export to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and that Zambia shall play the role of a transit point.

But the law as enshrined in the Biosafety Act of 2007 of section 11 and 14 is instructive that no GMO, be it for consumption, scientific purposes or indeed transit shall be imported into the country without seeking the authority of the Scientific Advisory Committees’ approval or public consultation.

And Mr Mundubile, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament has cautioned that the UPND administration has room to act responsibly and avoid breaking the law through importation of GMO products from South Africa.

Mr. Mundubile, the PF presidential candidate said the Zambia Biosafety Act of 2007 prohibited importation of GMOs products into Zambia, stating that Section 14 of the Act demanded that Zambians be consulted publicly over the importations that were not allowed in the country.

Mr. Mundubile, a lawyer by profession, said citizens were worried about the contradictory statements from Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and Government Spokespersons regarding the importation of mealie meal into Zambia.

“What should be clear to the Zambian people is that the UPND administration is about to commit an illegality by importing Genetically Modified Organisms into Zambia, against the law. The Biosafety Act of 2007, section 11 and 14 is instructive that there shall be no importation of the GMO without the approval of the Scientific Advisory Committee or consultation of the public. So far, we know that Zambians have not been consulted over the matter,” Mr Mundubile said.

Mr. Mundubile the UPND should endeavour to consult the law before importing the GMO and that any departure from following the statues was but an illegality.

“We have a law, the Bio Safety Act 2007, which provides for the approval process of importing GMO products into the country. This law provides for procedures on how GMO products are to be transmitted through Zambia. There is no need for top Government officials to be all over regarding this particular subject. Let them refer to what the law says. The same Act provides for a public hearing,” he said.

Mr. Mundubile said Zambians should be given an opportunity to speak to the matter as to whether government should import GMO products or transit through Zambia.

Mr. Mundubile said framers of the law had a reason why they enacted it, chiefly, to protect the environment, human and animal health.

“We are totally against the importation of GMO products because they are harmful to the environment, animal and human health,” Mr Mundubile said.