NBA chief executive officer and registrar Dr Deckstar
Savadye in a statement said, “As you are aware, Zimbabwe is a non-GM producing
country. To that effect, the NBA wishes to advise all importers or handlers of
imported GM grain to adhere to Statutory Instrument (SI) 157 of 2018, (Food,
Feed, Food and Feed Additives and Seed) (Imports, Exports and Transit)
regulations.”
For one to import GM grain, they should be registered with
the NBA and must be a holder of a biosafety import permit.
The NBA requires importers of grain to notify the board
when GM grain arrives in the country to allow thorough supervision by the
authority’s inspectors.
“The importer is also required to notify the NBA when their
consignment of GM grain enters the country, to enable the NBA to deploy
inspectors to the site where the grain will be processed. As the GM grain is to
be processed under strict supervision by the NBA,” Dr Savadye said.
The notice comes after the Government granted permission to
companies and individuals to import maize, rice, and cooking oil duty-free with
effect from July 2024 to avert looming food shortages emanating from the El
Nino-induced drought.
Other measures taken by the Government to beef up stocks
included the purchase of local grain at an import parity price of US$390 per
tonne to mop up excess local grain.
Speaking during a post-Cabinet media briefing in March, the
Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Jenfan Muswere
said the importation of GM grain would be for stockfeed production.
“Government has okayed a duty waiver on the importation of
rice and potato seed, and the importation of genetically modified maize for
stock feed, under strictly supervised milling and distribution,” the minister
said.
The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and
Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka added that rice and potatoes would be
regarded as key staples to ensure national food security.
Importers and processors who do not adhere to the law are
liable to a fine or imprisonment under SI 157 of 2018.
In addition, it is also an offense to process GM grain
without NBA supervision.
“Violating provisions in SI 157 of 2018 will result in the
perpetrator being liable to a fine not exceeding level 12 or to imprisonment
not exceeding five years or to both such fine and imprisonment,” Dr Savadye
said. Herald
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