NATIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY AUTHORITY

   IMPORTERS

The National Biotechnology Authority would like to highlight the following procedures to be adhered to by importers when submitting applications for authority to import food, feed, food and feed additives, and seed.

Any organization seeking to be granted authority by the NBA to import food, feed, food and feed additives, and seed into Zimbabwe should meet the following requirements:

  • 1.First, the organisation must be registered with NBA and its certificate of registration should be valid. To register the organisation must provide the following documents:
    • Completed Company Registration Form
    • CR14
    • Certificate of incorporation
    • Company profile
    • ZIMRA tax clearance
    • Registration fee
  • 2. Complete and submit Section B.

   

  • 3. On submission of the application it must be accompanied with the following:
    • A GM certificate or declaration from a competent authority (e.g. NBA in Zimbabwe) in the country of origin
  • 4.The GMO certificate must meet the following requirements:
    • Be on original letterhead of the laboratory conducting the test.The letterhead should have the logo, physical and postal addresses and telephone numbers.
    • The testing laboratory should be accredited to a competent authority in the country in which the testing facilities are located.
    • Have the original signature of the person responsible for the testing facilities.
    • Bear the official stamp of the testing institute.
    • The date of testing must not be more than 3 months old.
    • State the date of testing of the product and date of issue of the certificate.
    • Bear the certificate number.
    • State the name and address of the importing organization.
    • Provide clear description of the sample i.e. type, variety, quantity

   

    • State the place of sampling, sampling method and quantity of source material. Please note that sampling must be done by the testing laboratory and this should be indicated on the GMO certificate.
    • Provide clear specifications of the PCR analysis including: sample number, PCR Cycles, Limit of Detection (which should be not more than 0.02%). Please note that only the PCR method of analysis should be used.
    • Provide the test result and interpretation.
    • Make a declaration/statement about the testing laboratory facilities and procedures.
  • 5.GMO declarations will only be accepted for milled products and for any other products excluding seed and grain which are not known to be genetically modified. For seed and grain only PCR tests and GMO certificates which meet guidelines in number 4 above will be accepted. Only GMO declarations issued by the biosafety office of the government in the country of origin of the consignment will be accepted.
For online Application guidance Click here OR Download Click here