189 products withdrawn from circulation, Standards Agency says compliance levels among trading outlets improve by 4%

At least 189 products have been withdrawn from trading outlets in six provinces for failing to adhere to standards set for producers. These have an estimated value of K271,166.19, Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) said.

The agency had also quarantined 35 products in the six provinces which include electrical fittings, cooking oil, household electrical appliances, Maize meal, Fertiliser among others, according to Gerald Chizinga, the organization’s Executive Director.

Chizinga revealed this in Lusaka on Monday during the announcement of the findings of the 2023 National Open Market Surveillance (NOMS,) Inspections conducted in six provinces namely Eastern, Central, Lusaka, Southern, Western and Copperbelt.

He said the products which have been withdrawn include fruit flavoured drinks, clear beer, lubricating oil, potable spirits, electric cables, Maize meal, biscuits, bottled drinking water, dry batteries among others.

“ZCSA will continue to enhance enforcement activities on the market to protect consumers. For example, used undergarments were banned in Zambia 17years ago through a Statutory Instrument Number 120 of 2006 and Zambian Standards-ZS559 as such clothing pose health risks to person,” Chizinga said.

He said the agency would intensify its public education on compulsory standards through road shows, exhibitions, traditional media and digital in a bid to increase consumer awareness on product safety.

Chizinga further said the 2023 National Open Market Surveillance Inspections had established that there had been an improvement in compliance among trading outlets by four percent.

“Last year the compliance levels among trading outlets stood at 85 percent but this has moved to 89 percent this year and the National Open Market Surveillance Inspections have been conducted in six provinces,” he said.

Chizinga said the inspections covered 22 districts and 64 localities, inspecting a total of 35 products in the six provinces namely

“The report has tried to highlight the preliminary findings of Open Market Surveillance Inspections (OMS) currently taking place across the country.

The programme for 2023 commenced on July 31, 2023 and it would still run up to September 29, 2023,” he said.

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