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Zambia Strengthens Environmental Management Framework with Key Amendments

THE Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) has issued a directive mandating that environmental experts participating in any environmental assessment process must register with the agency.

ZEMA board member Rasford Kalamatila stated that registration will further strengthen the expertise of dealers in providing training and awareness materials, thereby reducing the incidences of chemical poisoning.

Mr Kalamatila said that this will result in a significant improvement in environmental assessment reports.

He also added that it would enhance the quality and eliminate the exploitation of investors by unscrupulous consultants, leading to a reduction in the turnaround time for reviewing and approving environmental assessment reports.

Mr Kalamatila explained this at a ZEMA conducted a consultative meeting to discuss the recent amendments to the Environmental Management Act No. 12 of 2011, in Livingstone yesterday.

“The Environmental Management Act No. 12 of 2011 has been amended by the Environmental Management (Amendment) Act No. 8 of 2023. The amendment of the EMA has provided a stronger legal and institutional framework for environmental management in the country,” he said.

Mr Kalamatila also highlighted that the key amendments to the Act would contribute to reducing the turnaround time for reviewing and approving environmental assessment reports.

“The Act now mandates that pesticides be registered with the agency as a prerequisite for licensing. This registration requirement is an internationally accepted standard and will ensure the availability of quality agrochemicals on the market,” he said.

Mr Kalamatila said that the agency is developing regulations to establish detailed processes for the aforementioned registration requirements.

He said that environmental management is a highly consultative process, and therefore, the responsibility for developing these regulations lies with agrochemical environmental development.

And ZEMA's director of legal services, Karen Etondo, disclosed that 19 chemicals have been identified for complete ban in the country.

Ms Etondo further noted that the country benefits whenever such bans occur at the international level.

She also highlighted the necessity for registering all chemicals introduced to the country for the first time.

ZEMA's acting director of operations, Christopher Kanema, stated that pollutants such as DDT are prohibited and are solely used for mosquito control.

 He said that manuals have been developed and that they are collaborating with farmers and agro dealers so that they can know the regulations.

End.

 

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