National Biotechnology Authority (Food, Feed, Food and Feed Additives and Seed) (Import, Export and Transit) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (No. 1)
Food, feed and seed exporters need a biosafety export permit only if the destination country requires one, and new US dollar biotechnology fees apply, including US$250 registration and US$250 per GMO test.
The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education has amended the National Biotechnology Authority (Food, Feed, Food and Feed Additives and Seed) (Import, Export and Transit) Regulations (S.I. 157 of 2018).
Section 7(1) no longer says an application must be accompanied by an application fee from the First Schedule. Under section 8, a biosafety export permit is now required only where the receiving country requires one. Exporting products in the Second Schedule without a required biosafety export permit is an offence carrying a fine up to level 12, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.
The First Schedule of fees is replaced. In US dollars: application for registration (Form FFA2) 250; additional cost for emergency permits 20; amendment of a permit 10; inspection per truck 20; biosafety export permit or GMO declaration certificate (Form FFA8) 50; GMO testing per sample 250; biosafety transit permit (Form FFA12) 10; inspectors' expertise 50 per inspector per day; and non-commercial imports of 200kg or less 5, or 201kg to 500kg 10.
Fees and penalties can be paid at the prevailing interbank rate. Clients also pay transport at Automobile Association of Zimbabwe rates, and inspectors' accommodation and meals if they need to stay overnight.
What changed
- A biosafety export permit is required only where the receiving country requires one.
- Exporting Second Schedule products without a required permit carries a fine up to level 12, up to five years' imprisonment, or both.
- The application fee wording in section 7(1) is removed.
- New fees: US$250 registration, US$250 per GMO test, US$50 export permit or GMO declaration, US$10 transit permit, US$50 per inspector per day.
Who this affects
- Importers and exporters of food, animal feed, food and feed additives and seed
- Seed companies
- Transporters moving these products through Zimbabwe in transit
Plain-language summary — not legal advice. Always read the full instrument.