Zimbabwe

Country introduction:

Zimbabwe is a party to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The National Biotechnology Authority (NBA) is the National Focal Point and Competent Authority for the CPB and the Biosafety Clearing House.

Regulatory framework:

My country has a regulatory framework that requires the competent authority to conduct safety assessment of GM food.

Structure for GM food safety assessment:

My country has competent authority, agency, organization, ministry, department, committee, commission or a system/mechanism that is tasked to conduct or review GM food safety assessment.

Supplemental information (regulatory framework):

 
Genetically modified organisms are regulated using the following legislation:

National Biotechnology Authority Act [Chap.14:31] of 2006.
National Biotechnology Authority (Food, Feed, Food and Feed Additives and Seed) (Import, Export and Transit) Regulations, 2018, Statutory Instrument 157 of 2018.
National Biotechnology Authority (Genetically Modified Food and Feed) (Labelling), Regulations, 2018, Statutory Instrument 159 of 2018.
National Biotechnology Authority (Agricultural Biotechnology Products), Regulations, 2018, Statutory Instrument 160 of 2018.

Relevant contact details:

The National Biotechnology Authority is the National Competent Authority for all biotechnology and biosafety matters hence; it is responsible for GM food safety assessment and may consult relevant stakeholders if necessary.

GM food safety assessment guidelines:

My country follows the relevant Codex Guidelines or national/regional guidelines that are in line with the Codex Guidelines in conducting safety assessment of GM food.

Conduct of GM food safety assessment:

My country regularly conducts food safety assessment of GM food.

Supplemental information (assessment):

Regulation stacked events:

Stacked events require full assessment as a new GM event.

Supplemental information (stacked events):

No events yet.

GM food/feed production:

My country produces GM food or feed only for research purposes.

GM food/feed imports:

My country allows imports GM food or feed upon authorization.

Supplemental information (production and trade):

Zimbabwe has taken a precautionary approach to the adoption of GMOs hence it has not commercialised any GMO varieties. Consequently there is no production of GM food, feed or seed in the country.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has regulatory agents that play the risk management part in GM food consumption. To this end, GM foods may be imported on condition that such foods are labelled. However government does not allow import of GMO grain that has potential for production. In times of severe drought, when non GMO grain cannot be secured for food, the country may allow the importation of GMO grain. Such imports are transported and milled under the supervision of the National Biotechnology Authority (NBA).

LLP/AP incidents:

My country has faced LLP/AP situations in the last 10 years.

Supplemental information (LLP/AP incidents):

Low level presence/ adventitious presence of GMOs have been detected in some imports particularly from GMO producing countries.

Labelling requirement:

My country has a mandatory and positive labeling regulation on GM food (i.e., It contains GMO).

Supplemental information (labelling requirement):

In accordance with the National Biotechnology Authority (Genetically Modified Food and Feed) (Labelling), Regulations, 2018, Statutory Instrument 159 of 2018, food or feed containing at least 1% of products of genetic modification shall be labelled in accordance with section 7 of the regulations.
The Food and Food Standards (Food Labelling) regulations administered by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, also require that any pre-packaged food containing at least 1% GMO components must be labelled that it contains GMO material.

Relevant links:

Upload relevant documents:

BCH:

Link to this country's profile under the Biosafety Clearing House (BCH)

FAO GM Foods Platform

Zimbabwe