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The Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry has underscored the need to strengthen capacity in evidence-based regulation to enhance Zambia’s trade competitiveness.
Director of Technical Regulations, Brian Moonga, made the remarks during the official opening of a workshop on Advanced Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and Regulatory Impact Assessment in Lusaka on Tuesday.
The workshop is being held with support from the National Board of Trade and has brought together key regulatory agencies and government ministries to strengthen Zambia’s regulatory environment.
Moonga said the workshop is aimed at deepening understanding of international best practices, improving the conduct of evidence-based regulatory impact assessments, and promoting inclusive stakeholder engagement.
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“These skills are essential for ensuring that our regulatory systems remain transparent, predictable and supportive of both national development and global competitiveness,” he said.
He noted that the Ministry coordinated the implementation of the World Trade Organization’s Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement and oversaw the National Technical Regulations Framework as well as Business Regulations and Reforms.
Through these frameworks, the Ministry provides guidance to regulatory agencies to ensure that regulations are developed in a transparent, consistent and evidence-based manner.
Moonga further stressed the importance of harmonising technical regulations across state institutions to avoid unnecessary barriers to trade and urged participants to use the workshop as a platform to share insights and build consensus on aligning Zambia’s regulatory processes with modern trade demands.
He expressed confidence that the workshop would contribute to a stronger regulatory framework that supports business growth and positions Zambia more competitively in the global marketplace.
Meanwhile, Senior Legal Adviser, Felinda Livgard, from the National Board of Trade said the TBT Agreement sought to ensure that regulations, standards, testing and certification procedures did not create unnecessary obstacles to trade, while allowing member states to pursue legitimate policy objectives.
She added that the agreement also guarded against unfair discrimination against imported products, ensuring a balanced and rules-based trading system.
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