Standards agency seizes over 1,000 unsafe products worth over K29,000 across four Zambian provinces

The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has seized over 1,000 non-compliant assorted products in North-Western, Luapula, Northern, and Muchinga provinces, valued at approximately K30,000.

According to a statement issued in Lusaka on Sunday by ZCSA Manager for Communications and Public Relations, Brian Hatyoka, the Agency confiscated 1,024 non-compliant products worth K29,131 between February and May this year. These items were found to be in violation of the Compulsory Standards Act No. 3 of 2017 and the prescribed requirements of relevant compulsory standards.

Hatyoka explained that some of the seized products were expired, damaged, or poorly labeled. Others were not registered with ZCSA or had been placed on the Zambian market without the Agency’s authorization, as required by law.

“Some products were labeled only in foreign languages, contrary to the Zambian standard for labelling—ZS 033—which stipulates that English must be the primary language used on product labels, even if other languages are included,” he stated.

The affected items include cooking oil, synthetic detergents, margarine, sugar, potable spirits, fruit-flavoured drinks, wheat flour, bottled drinking water, electrical products, and clear beer, among others.

Read More: ZCSA claims K610,650 worth of non-compliant electrical products withdrawn from market to safeguard consumers

Hatyoka said that some of the seized products would be disposed of soon, while others would undergo corrective measures to meet compliance standards.

“ZCSA has intensified enforcement, public education, and stakeholder engagement across the country to ensure that only safe and compliant products are traded on the Zambian market,” he assured.

He warned that entities supplying non-compliant products would face punitive measures, emphasizing the risks such goods pose to public health and safety.

Hatyoka also urged the public to report suspicious products covered under compulsory standards to the nearest ZCSA office for appropriate enforcement action.

“The Agency remains committed to enforcing compulsory standards in order to protect the health and safety of consumers,” he added.

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