Commit to a GMO FREE ZAMBIA

Zambia’s National Policy that governs GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS ( GMOs ) is being revised.
EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO BE CONSULTED ON THIS!

Add your name now to the list of those concerned. 

If the revision is approved by Cabinet, it will result in the complete change in Zambia’s legal framework on GMOs. The new draft positions GMOs and the contentious technologies used to make them, as nationally and globally accepted. This is NOT THE CASE.

GMOs are a highly controversial issue around the world - and come with high risks. 

Many Zambian stakeholders have no idea that this process is under way and have not been consulted. Many people have serious concerns and objections to GMOs, especially in agriculture, experimental medicine and environmental release. (E.G case of proposed genetically modified mosquito research in Zambia).

Zambia’s current policy of 2003 puts safety first.  
Especially related to food and farming, the policy PROTECTS farmers, consumers and the economy. It:

• gives market advantage
• safeguards local farmer markets from food dumping and undercutting prices
• protects consumers from GMO foods that pose health risks
• preserves farmers seed from contamination and toxic chemicals

Currently in Zambia there is:

• NO release of live GMOs into the environment
• NO growing of GM CROPS
• NO tampering of LIVING species

Crops and livestock of STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE are especially PROTECTED to ensure national food security

Members of the Zambia Alliance for Agroecology and Biodiversity and alarmed farmers and consumers, have been following this policy process for many years and expressed deep concern. "Allowing the production of GM crops and experimental live release of GMOs will not benefit Zambia. At a time when we face an unprecedented ecological and social crisis, we farmers, consumers, faith communities and civil society organisations feel it is our moral obligation to transition to sustainable, nutritious and diverse agro-ecological food and farming systems. Modern biotechnology and the corporations that control its use and resultant seed, food and life, go inherently against such a just transition".

We therefore:

• maintain the Right to say No
• demand that the use of modern biotechnology remains contained, that no environmental release of living modified organisms is permitted what so ever 
• insist that the precautionary approach, prior informed consent, regulatory measures, risk assessment, identification and detection, socioeconomic considerations, liability, access to information, and public participation remain as the core policy guiding principles in Zambia
• commit to working together to support a genuine process of policy formulation based on good governance and integrity, to harness technologies that enable equitable development, sustainability, transparency and accountability.
• commit to working together in the development of legitimate and holistic technologies that will benefit smallholder farmers and guarantee healthy and nutritious food for all, now and in the future.

GMOs in food and agriculture, and live release into the environment for any reason has HEALTH, SOCIAL-ECONOMIC AND ETHICAL IMPACTS.
ALL PEOPLE are therefore stakeholders of this policy.

The people have a right to be consulted. The people have a right to say no. Everyone has the right to be protected from known, and unknown, risks.  

GO TO www.zambianagroecology.org FOR MORE INFORMATION AND UPDATES

#GMOFreeZambia
#FoodJustice
#FarmersRights
#RightToSayNo