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Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Given Lubinda
Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Given Lubinda has directed officials in his ministry not to issue any import permits for poultry and poultry products without consulting the Poultry Association of Zambia (PAZ).
Mr. Lubinda says imports will not develop the country apart from exporting jobs and destroying local industry.
Mr. Lubinda has further urged PAZ to monitor any suspicious imports of poultry products and alert the ministry for action.
On the importation of Mechanically Deboned Meat (MDM), the Minister says his Ministry will engage Ministry of Finance and Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to develop specific codes for identifying MDM and avoid confusing the commodity for chicken.
He says his Ministry has started engaging chain stores to buy local as opposed to importing in order to protect local farmers.
The Agriculture Minister has also disclosed that his ministry is working on the Livestock Development Bill with poultry regulations as well as import protocols.
This is contained in a Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) Weekly Brief made available to QFM News by ZNFU Outreach and Membership Office Manager Judy Hamonzwe.