WINDHOEK – The Namibia Consumer Trust (NCT) has accused Namib Mills of misleading statments about tests done by the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) to detect the presence of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in Namibian maize. Namib Mills has said NCT’s assertion that its maize meal contain GMOs is “outdated information” arrived from tests done in early May 2013.
This week the NCT hit back at Namib Mills saying the tests on Namib Mills’ products were done in October 2012 and October 2013 and was done to widen its audience with regard to public consumptions on the biosafety regulations.
The Executive Director of NCT, Michael Gaweses rejects Namib Mill’s explanation that these low doses of GMO’s were detected due to the fact that more maize had to be imported from South Africa during last’s year’s drought, saying whether there is drought or not, Namibia has always imported maize from South Africa. “Thus Namib Mills inference that it had to import maize to cushion drought effects is false and rather exposes how Namib Mills under-estimate the intelligence of their customers just like they were hoping that customers won’t detect unlabelled GMO in their products,” said Gawases.
He says NCT wrote to Namib Mills on July 02, 2013, requesting a meeting so that Namib Mills could observe the collection and handing over of samples to the laboratory at the University of the Orange Free State. “There was no response from them until we did the tests in October 2013.
Thus the industry and Namib Mills have only themselves to blame for not labelling their products honestly. Consumers have the right to know what they are sold according to the United Nations guidelines,” he stressed.
He says GMO was not supposed to have been present in maize on Namibian shelves as the so-called marketing agreement between millers and producers contained a GMO free premium of eight percent as reward or encouragement in order not to provide GMO maize.
“Clearly there is currently nothing to suggest that NCT will not find GMO in locally milled maize. However, if Namib Mills is confident of GMO absence in its products, their products must be labelled ‘GMO Free’,” he said.
He says Namib Mills is a noteworthy beneficiary of the national trade policies such as import restrictions and infant industry protection, thus should take proactive measures to label their products appropriately without waiting for authorities to compel it through Biosafety regulations.
“NCT is also happy that Namib Mills agree that GMO is not planted but imported as it finally admitted that it imported GMO from South Africa.”
“Besides GMO, the biggest concern for consumers is the artificially set exorbitant price of maize, which if it was done in other industries, would have attracted the attention of the competition authority. The current maize price mechanism has got nothing to do with the Namibian socio-economic realities, not to mention real production costs. NCT is, however, hopeful that Government’s efforts through establishment of strategic reserves will aid food security in order to stem imports of maize, especially GMO maize imports,” he said, saying the NCRST should explain the concept of GMO to Namibians without involving non-Namibians so that there can be national consensus on what GMO is.
The NCRST is further advised to bring together officials responsible for the implementation and monitoring of national policies such as the Fourth National Development Plan, Vision 2030 and the industrialisation policy.
By Deon Schlechter