Standards body seizes over 10,000 cases of non-compliant spirits worth K1 million in Lusaka

The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has seized and withdrawn from the market more than 10,557 cases of non-compliant potable spirits valued at over K1 million in Lusaka.

ZCSA Public Relations Officer, Onishias Maamba, stated that the total value of the seized products was K1,033,260.

This action was taken because suppliers lacked the necessary permits to supply the products on the market, the agency claimed.

Maamba, in a statement issued in Lusaka on Sunday, said that the suppliers violated sections 15 and 21 of the Compulsory Standards Act No. 3 of 2017.

“Further, the products had no batch numbers and manufacturing dates as required by the relevant compulsory standard, thereby making it difficult for the Agency to guarantee the safety of the merchandise,” Maamba stated.

Additionally, Maamba highlighted that the non-compliant potable spirits were seized and withdrawn from Chaisa, Matero, Makeni townships and the Chinika Industrial area in Lusaka.

He said samples of the products had been taken to the laboratory for further analysis to inform the next course of action.

“Further, the Agency has seized 58 pressing irons at Makeni Mall in Lusaka for having non-compliant top plugs valued at K20,479.42,” Maamba added.

These enforcement actions were conducted over the weekend during spot checks to assess the registration status of manufacturers and suppliers of potable spirits and household electrical appliances on the market.

Maamba warned of punitive measures against entities manufacturing, importing and supplying products to the market without complying with the laws of Zambia.

“This is because such products may pose a risk to public safety and health. ZCSA will continue conducting enforcement and public education activities across Zambia in a bid to ensure that only safe products are supplied to consumers,” he said.

Maamba indicated that the agency would soon publish a list of registered entities to guide consumers on which local manufacturers and importers have authority from the agency to supply products covered by compulsory standards on the market.

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