NBA OFFICERS DEPLOYED TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER GMO MEALIE MEAL STOLEN FROM ZNS STORAGE FACILITY IS BACK ON ZAMBIAN MARKET

The National Biosafety Authority-NBA has deployed its officers on the ground to ascertain whether the Genetically Modified-GMO mealie meal that went missing from a Zambia National Service-ZNS storage shade at Kasumbalesa border is back onto the Zambian market.

And authority has also seized and destroyed 25 bags by 25 kilograms of mealie meal that may contain Genetically Modified Organisms-GMOs in Kazungula district of Southern Province.

NBA Communications Officer Sandra Lombe says the bags of mealie meal were intercepted by inspectors and other enforcement agencies last Friday during a joint operation following a tip-off alert from members of the public who were suspicious of the product.

Ms. Lombe says further investigations led to the authority seizing another 13 bags of the mealie meal which may contain GMOs which were placed on the market without prior authorization from the authority.

She says the traders who had no permit to either import or place on the market the mealie meal were arrested by the Zambia police and taken to court where it was determined that the products be destroyed.