Standards agency warns traders, producers of prosecution for sell of unapproved products

The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has sounded a warning to producers and traders illegally supplying products on the market not cleared by the authority of prosecution

ZCSA Executive Director, Gerald Chizinga, said anyone found selling products on the market that did not comply with the Compulsory Standards would be prosecuted while items would be withdrawn.

Chizinga emphasised on Friday at the Media Engagement Training in Lusaka that the agency would not hesitate to withdraw products which did not comply with Compulsory Standards from the market.

“Let me take this opportunity to remind producers and traders that it is illegal to supply products subject to Compulsory standards on the market without authority from the agency.

“Offenders risk being prosecuted in line with provisions of the Compulsory Standards of Act No.3 of 2017,” Chizinga said.

ZCSA, he said, was committed to supplementing government’s efforts to support the businesses including the Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to ensure safety products were on the market.

He stated that the agency ensured that products that were subject to Compulsory Standards met specific criteria before the commodity could be supplied on the market.

“The criteria include performance, composition contents, methods of manufacturing or processing, design, packaging or labelling, among others.

“This is aimed at preventing the risk or injury or harm to consumers and the environment,” Chizinga said.

On the workshop, Chizinga said it was aimed at enhancing Journalist’s knowledge and understanding the agency mandate to help raise public awareness on safety of products.

He acknowledged the importance of the media in information dissemination to the public

“ZCSA recognises the important role the media plays in educating the masses on different subjects including product standards.

“The media is successful in setting a public agenda in terms of what people should think about and there I appeal to you to set an agenda on Compulsory Standards to enhance consumer protection,” he said.

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