European Union, COMESA present Zambia with rapid testing kits for tradable food products at border areas

The European Union (EU) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) have procured and handed over Rapid Testing Kits to government valued at 227, 525 Euros.

Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry Permanent Secretary, Lillian Bwalya, said the equipment will be deployed to Chirundu, Mwami and Nakonde One Stop Border Posts under the Zambia Border Posts Upgrade Project (ZBPUP).

Speaking when she handed over the equipment on Friday in Lusaka to border agencies, Bwalya said this development will help bridge the gap that exists in the test and diagnosis processes of tradable food products at the three Borders.

She said the equipment is not only important in ensuring imported products are safe for domestic consumption but also plays a critical role in promoting the production and use of quality products that meet regional and international requirements and standards.

“You will agree with me that testing of products in Zambia has been highly centralized and is usually done from the Provincial Centres,” Bwalya said.

She said the procurement and placement of the testing kits at designated target borders will enable testing of products to be done on site without having to send samples to the Provincial Centres.

COMESA Assistant Secretary General, Dev Haman, said the several studies conducted in the region have revealed that borders of major trade corridors in the region are characterized by inefficient border clearance procedures that cause delays in the movement of both trucks and goods.

“It is notable that the COMESA region has made significant advances in trade facilitation in the last ten to fifteen years following the introduction of many modernization measures,” Haman said.

He said these include increased automation of processes, advances in system connectivity and interfacing, use of risk management, implementation of National Single Windows and establishment of One-Stop-Border Posts in several countries.

EU Head of Cooperation, Claudio Bacigalupi, commended government for facilitating the border upgrade projects which will address several challenges encountered in trade facilitation.

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