Namibia Consumer Trust

Michael GawesebExecutive Director

NCT’s Background

• Not for profit registered institution• Member of Consumers International• NCT advocates for consumer rights to be

respected e.g. to choose, informed, redress, etc

Consumer Education

• NCT strives to educate consumers about their rights

• Hold workshops in most regions in Namibia• Uses media as well since it does not have

members by choice due to divide between rich and poor

• Conducts research based advocacy

Why is GMO important to consumers?

• To consume food is a right • Quality of food should conform to such rights• Most Namibians consume maize as staple food,

especially the poor (up to 3x per day)• Maize/corn used for GMO experimentation• Roughly about 50 to 60% maize imported• Thus the question was “do we eat GMO in

Namibia?”

Consumers Detected GMO in maize

Natural consumer conclusion

• GMO = DECEPTION (no appropriate labeling)

• Thus the precautionary principle– Reject GMOs as consumer right to choice, redressInformation, etc are not respectedISO 26 000 for social responsibility provides for the

precautionary principle, thus companies that care should label proactively

Health concerns

• Conduct suggest there are real concerns as proven overwhelmingly on rats, pigs, etc. As well as severe restriction of GMO in many countries

• Thus NCT keen for GMO not to be fed to humans, especially when they are not informed in advance.

Processed meat test

Test results

• Undeclared species found such as pork, Kangaroo, etc

• Undeclared species and GMO threatens consumer right to know

• It raises questions of ethics, religious and cultural rights violations, etc

Resilience and food security

• To be looked at in relation to household food security, nutrition, prices, etc an not only the national food security.

• GMOs may pose threat to food sovereignty, thus food security as seed is patented.

• Products to be marketed in a fair and honest manner to protect consumer confidence in the marketing mechanisms.

• Thank you!