Africa: SADC Sets Guidelines for Gm Food

The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) has approved guidelines on handling aid relating to genetically modified foods (GMs) following recommendations by its advisory committee on biotechnology and biosafety formed last year. According to the guidelines on biotechnology and bio-safety obtained by Zana at the on-going SADC summit on agriculture and food security, member countries recommended that the sourcing of food aid should be within the region. The region should develop and adopt a harmonised transit information and management system for genetically modified aid designed to facilitate trans boundary movement in a safe and expeditious manner.