Melo News | Sunday, May 26, 2024 | 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The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has seized and withdrawn from the market more than 10, 557 cases of non-compliant potable spirits valued at cost of K1, 033, 260 in Lusaka.
ZCSA public relations officer Onishias Maamba says this came about because suppliers had no permit to supply the products on the market contrary to the provisions of sections 15 and 21 of the Compulsory Standards Act No. 3 of 2017.
Melo Media reports that Mr.Maamba in a statement released yesterday,said that 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.
“The non-compliant potable spirits were seized and withdrawn from Chaisa, Matero, Makeni townships and Chinika Industrial area in Lusaka,”he said.
Mr. Maamba said samples of these products have been taken to the laboratory for further analysis in a quest to inform the next cause of action.
He said the Agency further seized 58 pressing irons at Makeni Mall in Lusaka for having non-compliant top plugs valued at K20, 479.42.
Mr. Maamba said 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.
“ZCSA is warning of punitive measures against entities which are manufacturing, importing and supplying products on 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.
Mr. Maamba said the Agency will 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.
And Mr. Maamba said ZCSA is inviting the public to visit its stand at the 2024 Copperbelt, Agricultural, Mining, Industrial, Networking and Enterprise (CAMINEX) show to be held this week at the Kitwe showgrounds from May 28,2024 to May 30, 2024.
“The public should take advantage of the Show to learn of the Agency’s mandate and possibly alert ZCSA officers of suspicious and questionable products on the market,”he said.
The theme for the 2024 CAMINEX Show is “Unlocking Opportunities for Growth: Zambia’s Land Linked Position”.
He said ZCSA is assisting to unlock Zambia’s economic opportunities for growth in different sectors of the country’s economy through efficient monitoring of imported and locally manufactured products in major entry points and inland.
“This is in a quest to protect consumers and the environment from unsafe products on the market.
ZCSA, a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry (MCTI), is mandated by the Compulsory Standards Act No. 3 of 2017 to administer, maintain and enforce compulsory standards for the purpose of public safety and health, consumer and environmental protection,”he said.
