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According to ZARI (Zambia Agriculture Research Institute), genetically-modified organisms may be allowed to be imported into Zambia, subject to approval from the National Biosafety Authority in line with the National Biosafety Act No. 10 of 2007.

Companies, local or foreign, may apply to develop an MFEZ (Multi-Facility Economic Zone) or operate in an MFEZ, once they demonstrate that their investment is to bring the following benefits: local employment creation; expansion of local production and diversification of the economy; utilization of local raw materials and intermediate goods ; introduction and transfer of technology and skills; production of new products; and social development. In addition, they also need to provide an environment impact analysis where necessary, (...)

Table 3.21 Summary of the changes proposed in the bills
IP rights Changes proposed
(...)
Traditional knowledge Protection of Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources and Expression Draft Bill of 2015

The Revised Sixth National Development Plan (R-SNDP) considers agriculture, including livestock and fishery, to be one of the main stepping stones for diversifying Zambia's economy. Its ambitions include several infrastructural investments to support agricultural development, as well as food security, in an environmentally sustainable manner.

In 2012, the NAP (National Agriculture Policy) was revised. It will be implemented from 2012 to 2030, with the aim of building a "competitive and diversified agricultural sector driven by equitable and sustainable agricultural development", through liberalization, commercialization, promotion of public and private partnerships, and provision of effective agricultural services. (...)

Several laws regulate Zambia's agricultural sector (Table 4.1). The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock is in charge of the overall agriculture policy. Many other institutions, including the private sector and NGOs, are involved in the formulation and implementation stages. The Seed Control and Certification Institute (SCCI) assists in providing quality seed for Zambian farmers. The National Plant Genetic Resource Centre is in charge of the collection and preservation of genetic resources. Other key players in policy implementation in agriculture include the University of Zambia, the ministry in charge of science and technology, and the National Science and Technology Council.

Table 4.1 List of selected laws regulating agriculture in Zambia
No. Legal instrument Purpose
3. Fisheries Act No. 22 of 2011 • Promotion of sustainable development of fisheries and a precautionary approach in fisheries management, conservation, utilization and development;
• Establishment of fisheries management areas and fisheries management committees;
• Regulation of commercial fishing and aquaculture;
• Establishment of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Fund
(...)

Before state land can be bought and a title deed issued, "state consent", issued by the Commissioner of Lands, must be obtained. With respect to customary lands, the following documents are required: written consent of the area Chief and approval of the District Council in the area; in the case of game management areas, approval from the Director General of the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) is required. The authorities recognize that out of the estimated 1.5 million small-scale farmers, only 3% have title deeds; and the lack of title deeds, in many cases, discourages small-scale farmers from adopting a sustainable, long-term land management approach.

During the review period, Zambia notified to the WTO that it did not subsidize its exports of agricultural goods for the period 2003-10. It also notified that during calendar years 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012, all domestic support related to Green Box measures. The main areas of public support were development programmes in the framework of the Fertilizer Support Programme; research; agro-economic services; veterinary and phytosanitary services and quality control; resource conservation and environmental management; as well as actions related to public stock holding for strategic food reserves.

The Department of Fisheries in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock is mandated through the Fisheries Act to manage the fisheries resources of the country. In order to ensure sustainable utilization of the fisheries resources in line with the provisions of the Act, the following control measures are employed:
• An annual fishing closure, from 1 December to 28 February the following year, to protect the breeding of the commercially preferred species (mostly Tilapia species) whose breeding peaks in this period;
• A mesh size restriction of not less than 50 mm for all stationary gillnets;
• The introduction of permanently closed areas as sanctuaries and breeding grounds for commercially important species; and
• A complete ban on the use of certain destructive fishing methods such as the forcefully driving of fish into set nets, use of explosives, use of weirs targeting migratory fish, and beach seine nets operated in shallow waters, which incidentally destroy fish nests and foul the water by stirring up silt.