Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy.

The Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy is a sectoral document designed to establish a framework for managing both the potential risks to human, animal, and environmental health, as well as the benefits associated with biotechnology. The Policy generally aims to support the development of research and industrial capacity to safely apply biotechnology techniques, contributing to Zambia’s socio-economic growth and environmental sustainability. To achieve these objectives, the Policy emphasizes the need to promote the safe research, development, application, and commercialization of biotechnology products. This requires strengthening relevant institutions through enhanced human resource development and the upgrading of physical and laboratory infrastructure. More specific objectives of the document are: (i) to support the safe application of biotechnology techniques; (ii) to support the development of regulatory capacity to assess, test, monitor, and control for the safe research, development, application, and commercialization of biotechnology following agreed Biosafety legislation and guidelines; (iii) to ensure effective control of transboundary movements of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) or products thereof resulting from modern biotechnology, through the exchange of information and risk assessment as well as a transparent system of advance informed agreement; (iv) to ensure the safe and judicious use of biotechnology, with a view to maximizing its potential benefits while avoiding, to the maximum extent possible, any adverse effects on human and animal health as well as on the environment.