AUDA-NEPAD’s African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE) provided technical support to the Zambian Biosafety Authority (NBA) in the organisation of a validation meeting on the Revised Draft Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy 2022 for two provinces of Zambia from 13 to 14 May 2022. The two provinces are North-Western and Copperbelt provinces.

Fifty-five stakeholders from diverse institutions including government Ministries, provincial administrations and District Farmers’ Unions attended the workshop and gave input into the revised draft Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy 2022.

The workshop was opened by the District Commissioner of Ndola, Mr Maxwell Phiri who highlighted Zambia’s need to revise the policy to make the country harness biotechnology and emerging technologies judiciously and safely. Other opening remarks were given by M. Lackson Tonga, CEO of Zambia NBA, and Dr Jeremy  Ouedraogo, the AUDA-NEPAD Head of ABNE.

From the contributions of meeting participants, a revised and updated copy of the “Draft  Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy 2022” will be developed and submitted to Secretariat consisting of Zambia National Biosafety Authority  and staff from Ministry of Green Economy and the Environment for incorporation. It is expected that the revised policy will be adopted during a final national policy adoption meeting that will be held in Lusaka in June 2022.