By JOWIT SALUSEKI –

INVESTMENT in the science and technology sector is one of the bedrocks of development for any nation in this era, thus the National Biosafety Authority (NBA)  a Statutory Body established by the Biosafety Act No.10 of 2007 has in a bid to facilitate a comprehensible understanding of biotechnology and biosafety scientific terms translated phrases in the seven main local languages.
The NBA whose mandate includes to regulate the research, development, application, importation , exporting, transiting , contained use, release or placing on the market of any Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)is also providing  a platform for  public participation, information and consultations in the field of Biosafety as it relates to GMO.
What is a GMO?
A Genetically Modified Organism is any biological entity capable of replication or transfer or transferring genetic material. Alternatively, it is any plant , animal or micro-organism whose genetic material has been altered through modern technology.
Are GMOs allowed in Zambia?
There has been a debate among citizens if GMOs are allowed in the country especially when late President Levy Mwanawasa rejected GMO maize in 2002 at the height of food scarcity which was declared a national emergency.
According to the NBA , GMOs are allowed in the country once they have undergone risk assessment and have been authorised by the Authority in writing.
Therefore any person that wants to use or develop GMO need authorisation or permit from the Authority.
All genetically modified products should also be appropriately labeled including those in supermarkets and any other shops.
Any person who wishes to import, use or research on a GMO is required to publish this information in local national newspapers .The public will have 30 days to comment before any decision is made by the Authority.
Before any decision is made by the NBA, any application of a GMO will go through a comprehensive risk assessment by the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) .The SAC is a technical committee consisting of experts in various fields of science.
During 2014 , the NBA received numerous enquiries on the procedure of lodging applications or importation of various genetically modified crops and products in Zambia.
The Biosafety Act No .10 0f section 14(5) is categorical on the importance of public views as regards the application and subsequent decisions arrived at.
Similarly, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) on Article 23, encourages parties to promote and facilitate public awareness, education and participation concerning the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organism or indeed genetically modified organisms.
It is  with the foregoing that the NBA in a bid to facilitate a comprehensible and informed participation of the public on issues of biotechnology and biosafety , keeping in mind that these issues are susceptible to being misrepresented and thus leading to deeply entrenched positions which therefore led to the organisation to translate the terms in the seven major languages.
Speaking in an interview recently, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Doris Musonda said the organization has taken a historical approach to translate terms and phrases in the main local languages so that the members of the public will be able to understand the benefits of biosafety and the operations of the NBA.
Ms Musonda also clarified that currently, the country is not growing any genetically modified organisms, but only allows processed foodstuffs with less than 0.9 per cent  of GMO.
“Genetically Modified Organisms are allowed in Zambia once they have undergone risk assessment and have been authorized by the NBA in writing’’,
Ms Musonda said. She said the NBA, besides regulating,also  takes measures to protect crops, humans and animal health, biological diversity and the environment from the risks that may be posed by any GMO.
“A person commits an offence if they research, develops, imports, releases, places on the market or makes contained use of any genetically modified organism or product without the written approval of the Authority. This can attract a fine of 500,000 penalty units or 15 years imprisonment or both,” Ms Musonda said.
She said the public should not confuse GMO with hybrid products as some crops could grow bigger if they were to be grown in a proper way.
Senior Biosafety Officer Maimouna Abass said 12 applications have so far been received from people intending to deal in GMO  of which 10 are for processed foods while two are for research purposes.
‘’Before an application is approved, a SAC) comprising of experts drawn from scientific related fields scrutinizes the applications taking into account any risk assessments on what impact the product to be brought in the country will have on both human  and the environment’’ ,Mrs Abass said.
She added that regardless of the use, the genetically modified product poses no risk to human or animal health, biological diversity  or the environment.
The NBA was established under the Biosafety Act No.10 0f 2007 to regulate the use and development of GMO in the country in order to utilize the benefits of current technology for end users, producers, consumers and the general public.
The organisation’s core value is to ensure safe use and research of GMO , raising consumer confidence and promoting development in Zambia.