Zambian National Biosafety Authority approves import of pet foods, snacks alleged to contain GMOs

ZAMBIA – Zambian National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has granted two companies permits to import pet foods and snacks alleged to contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for the next five years. Speaking in an interview, NBA’s Authority Communications Officer Sandra Lombe said that the Scientific Advisory Committee recommended to the Board the issuance of permits after risk assessments were conducted and…

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Zambia Bureau of Standards, Angolan Institute of Standardization and Quality pen deal to boost trade

ZAMBIA – The Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) has penned a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Angolan Institute of Standardization and Quality (INIQ) in a bid to increase trade between the two nations. The MOU will see the two institutions strengthen their cooperation in standardization, conformity assessment, and training activities. It will also guarantee that goods and services traded…

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Two Six Zero Brands Africa receives ISO 22000 certification

ZAMBIA – Two Six Zero Brands Africa, a consumer goods manufacturer based in Zambia, has recently been certified against  ISO 22000, demonstrating that they have complied with all relevant international food safety requirements. “We are committed to providing our customers with the highest quality products possible, and this certification is a testament to that commitment. We will continue to strive…

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FAO Farmer Field Schools yield encouraging results in fighting antimicrobial resistance

AFRICA – FAO Farmer Field Schools (FFS) has shown that changes in animal production techniques can result in judicious antimicrobial use (AMU), safe food, and higher profit margins. Results from pilots in Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, and Zimbabwe reveal that farmers who took part in the FAO’s poultry FFS boosted their efforts in infection prevention and control while decreasing their usage…

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Kenya, Zambia in bid to resolve more than decade-long non-tariff trade barriers

KENYA – Kenya and Zambia are at the brink of signing a memorandum of understanding to end the long simmering trade dispute that saw Zambia ban the export of Kenyan milk more than a decade ago. Although Kenya has enough standards for a variety of industries, according to KEBS Director General Bernard Njiraini, harmonizing the standards to include other nations…

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CABI to help farmers in Zambia fight Cassava Brown Streak Disease

ZAMBIA – The Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) has teamed up with the Zambian government to combat the deadly Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD), which can cause the crop to completely fail and be destroyed. CABI through its PlantwisePlus program, aims to assist Zambian farmers in realizing their vision for controlling the CBSD threat. PlantwisePlus is a global…

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Zambeef Products eyes new markets with new ISO 22000 Certification

ZAMBIA – Zambeef Products, Zambia’s largest integrated cold chain food products and agribusiness company, has been awarded ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System Certification for its ZamMilk, Masterpork and Zamchick plants. The ISO 22000 is an internationally recognized food safety standard that is designed to harmonize the requirements for food safety management for businesses within the food chain. The standard…

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International Atomic Energy Agency, FAO strive to ensure safety in animal products

ZAMBIA – The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are working with Zambian experts to address drug resistant microbes as well as food contamination in meat and other animal products. The causes of food poisonings and contamination range from production and handling practices to the unsafe use of veterinary drugs among others. For many…

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FAO launches online course to improve poultry production practices in African countries

ZAMBIA/ZIMBABWE – The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) through its Virtual Learning Centre for Southern Africa (SFS-VLC) has launched an online course to bolster the capacity of Farmer Field School (FFS) facilitators and master trainers in Zambia and Zimbabwe to prepare and run quality poultry-focused FFS.  The course will broaden their knowledge and skills in FFS facilitation in…

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