President Mwanawasa has ordered the immediate issuance of a statutory instrument to curb the smuggling into the country of suspected genetically modified agricultural products.
Mr Mwanawasa has directed Minister of Science, Technology and Vocational Training, Peter Daka to issue the statutory instrument.
The President issued the directive in Lusaka yesterday when he officially commissioned the Genetically Modified Organisms National Referral Laboratory of the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research at Mount Makulu Research Station.
Mr Mwanawasa said Government would maintain its stand against genetically modified organisms and would continue rejecting them.
He also explained that the statutory instrument should spell out how to control the importation of agricultural chemicals.
The President said the statutory instrument should certify dealers of herbicides and other agricultural chemicals and curb smuggling of the products into the country.
Mr Mwanawasa said Mr Daka should also table a bill in Parliament so that the statutory instrument could become an Act of Parliament.
“All dealers in herbicides and other agricultural chemicals should get certified because it is very important that we protect the environment.
It is also important that our people are protected from eating genetically modified food which can affect their health,” Mr Mwanawasa said.
Mr Mwanawasa said in 2002, the world spotlight was focused on Zambia and in many cases Government was misunderstood as having rejected biotechnology.
He brushed aside the misunderstanding, saying Government was only cautious with technological transfer, especially regarding genetic modification of food crops.
The President said some institutions in Zambia were studying genetic engineering because genetic modification was not the only product of biotechnology.
Mr Mwanawasa said the whole world was aware of the implications resulting from products of modern biotechnology like genetic engineering on human and animal health and the environment.
“Therefore, as a Government, we would rather be cautious and not venture into the unknown.
My Government fully appreciates the centre stage biotechnology is taking and will continue to take in the 21st century and beyond,” he said.
He said Government was, on the other hand, criticised by some local sections of society that wanted it to reject the donated maize on grounds that its effects on people’s health was uncertain.
Mr Mwanawasa said since his Government was just in its first year in office; it was difficult to make a decision on whether to accept such donated maize.
“But the interesting part on this matter was that some of the countries which wanted Zambia to accept GM maize later came to donate non-GM maize to us after we rejected the GM one.
They wanted to use Zambians as guinea pigs,” the President said.
He said in 2004, Government with the support of Norway embarked on a capacity building programme that resulted in the commissioning of the GM detecting laboratory at Mount Makulu.
Government contributed K1.9 billion for infrastructure development while Norway released US$400,000 for the purchase of equipment, legislative processes, staff training and public awareness.
The President urged the Ministry of Science and Technology to ensure that the laboratory was used optimally especially in examining products that farmers utilised.
And Norwegian ambassador to Zambia, Terge Vigtel, commended Government for the bold decision of rejecting GM maize in 2002 in the midst of food shortages in the country.
Dr Vigtel said the decision led to the commissioning of the referral GM detecting laboratory at Mount Makulu.
He pledged his Government’s continued support in various development sectors in Zambia, including the biotechnology industry.
