Biosafety (Amendment) Act, 2026 (Act No. 49 of 2026).

This Act, consisting of 3 sections, amends the original text as follows (i) Section 2, introducing a new definition of “legally disqualified,” which is defined as the absence of legal capacity under the Mental Health Act. The purpose is to clarify eligibility and legal capacity standards within the Act by explicitly linking disqualification to mental health legislation; (ii) First Schedule, fully restructuring the composition of the Authority, expanding stakeholder participation and strengthens multi-sectoral representation in biosafety governance. It replaces the existing membership rules with a broader and more detailed list of part-time members appointed by the Minister. The Authority now includes a Chairperson with relevant expertise, representatives from key ministries (environment and agriculture), the Attorney-General, and stakeholders from farmers’ organizations, the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Zambia Consumer Association, civil society organizations involved in agro-economy and biodiversity, and three representatives from NGOs working in related fields. expands stakeholder participation and strengthens multi-sectoral representation in biosafety governance.