Freddy Hirsch allowed to import spices
By Staff Reporter
Zambia, Freddy Hirsch Group Limited has been granted a permit to import spices that may contain ingredients made from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOS).
And Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) has been given a go ahead to conduct research using a vaccine made from Genetically Modified material aimed at fighting diarrhea in infants.
In a statement issued by NBA communications officer Sandra Lombe, this follows recommendations made by the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) board on Wednesday from its scientific advisory committee to allow Freddy Hirsh and CIDRZ to proceed with importation of spices and conducting research respectively.
Lombe said that Freddy Hirsh will bring in different varieties of spices, of which some are used in the production of some sausages such as boerewors.
” The company applied to bring in 29 products among them, garlic powder, paprika Rosen, Zambeef hp, Zambeef French polony, beef sausage, boerewors farm style ‘r” , hunters biltong seasoning, oukraal wors ’r’, Cumberland pork sausage, Russian montana and peri peri rub spices among others,”she said.
She explained that this means that whoever buys these products is expected to have a copy of Freddy Hirsch’s permit and that all those making products using the said spices for sale will be required to clearly label their products that they ‘may contain ingredients of GMO products’.
Lombe said that failure to do so would lead to seizure and destruction of their products in accordance with the provisions of the law.
Meanwhile, Lombe has disclosed that CIDRZ will conduct research on infants aged between 6 and 8 weeks and will cover 1,500 children in Zambia.
“About 8,200 infants in three African countries including Zambia will participate in the vaccine trial which is aimed at reducing mortality rate in infants through diarrhea diseases,”she said.
