Crown Foods Ingredients Zambia granted import permit …as Kellogs Cornflakes are seized from Lusaka’s Woolworths Supermarket

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Crown Foods Ingredients Zambia granted import permit
…As Kellogs Cornflakes are seized from Lusaka’s Woolworths Supermarket

By Derrick Sinjela

The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has granted Crown Foods Ingredients Zambia a permit to import products which may contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs), says Communications Officer Ms. Sandra Lombe.

And still on NBA’s ‘prevention is better than cure’ aporoach, Ms. Lombe says Kellogs products brought into the country without prior authorization from the NBA have been seized from Woolworths Super markets in Lusaka.

In a Wednesday 10th March, 2021 Press Release, Ms. Lombe reported that Crown Foods ingredients Zambia will bring in various premixes and other ingredients which may contain GMOs.

Ms. Lombe says the products include Soya isolate emulsipro 90e 20kg, NCP complete pizza flavoured mix 10kg, NCP complete smokey CHS & on mix 10kg, Chakalaka bread mix eb 12, 5kg, Superior milk bread 25kg and Supa soft yellow bread 25kg. Others are NCP complete hunters bread 10kg, Hunters bread premix and Soya mince UNCOL VP20 20kg.

“The permit is valid for five years. The company has also been granted a six months permit to place on the market the products that may contain GMOs that it will bring in,” Ms. Lombe noted.

The NBA equally issued Zambian Brands, Gatbro International Limited, Southern National Import and Export, Gola Stock Feeds and Choppies Ltd permits for placing on the market products that may contain GMOs.

Additionally, from January to date the National Biosafety Authority has issued five non GMO certificates to company’s intending to export some products from Zambia.

“Among those issued with non-GMO certificates include Nyama Soya Ltd, Mauritius Chemical & Fertilizer Industry limited, Parrogate Ginneries and Pembe Flour Mills,” noted Ms. Lombe.

And the NBA, during its spot and compliance checks seized Kelloggs cornflakes, Kelloggs Coco pops and Kelloggs Rice Krispies worth over K5, 000 from Woolworth Supermarket at Manda Hill Shopping Mall in Lusaka.

In protecting consumer interests, Ms. Lombe pledged that the products will be disposed of according to the National Biosafety Act No 10 of 2007.

“Woolworth Superstores had started the process to apply for authorization to import GMO products but withdrew the application. Therefore, the Superstore will not trade in any products that may contain GMOs. As for those products which they brought into the country illegally, we shall destroy them as we have done for other GMO products which were brought into the country without authorisation from the NBA,” explained Ms. Lombe.

Ms. Lombe urged those trading in products that may contain GMOs to ensure that necessary required authorisation is sought to avoid being inconvenienced.

Meanwhile, Ms. Lombe says the National Biosafety Authority has from January 2021 to date registered one Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) for the Centre for Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ).

“An IBC reviews, approves and oversees research involving the use of genetic engineering technology and other biohazards.
Currently, the NBA is actively participating in activities regarding Covid -19 Vaccine.

NBA was established under the Biosafety Act No. 10 of 2007. Through the Act the NBA regulates the research, development, application, importation, export, transit, contained use, release or placing on the market of any GMO/LMO whether intended for use as a pharmaceutical, food, feed or processing, or a product of a GMO also to ensure that any activity involving the use or a product of GMO prevents any socio-economic impact or harm to human, animal health and the environment in Zambia,” explained Ms. Lombe.

NBA functions include processing notifications and applications of GMOs or products of GMOs into the country, in accordance with the requirements of the Biosafety Act, promoting public awareness and education concerning the activities regulated under the Act such as risk assessment, risk management and authorization processes; keeping any GMO or any product of a genetically modified organism under review and to ban its handling or release in Zambia.

The NBA is taxed with establishing and maintaining a database of GMOs and their products as well as making available such information to the public.