Standards body to start regulating 41 more products starting October 1, 2025 (Video)

The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has announced that it will begin enforcing 41 new compulsory standards effective October 1, 2025, aimed at protecting public health and safety, safeguarding consumers, and enhancing environmental protection.

ZCSA currently regulates 61 imported and locally manufactured products covering food items, beverages, chemicals, household electrical appliances, fuel, fertilizer, used motor vehicles, cement, and used textiles, among others.

Announcing the development in Lusaka on Friday during a Media Enforcement Workshop on the new compulsory standards, held at Golden Peacock Hotel, ZCSA Executive Director Gerald Chizinga said the measures wouenhance the agency’s role in protecting citizens while also promoting industry competitiveness.

“The implementation of the new compulsory standards follows the issuance of Statutory Instrument (SI) No. 20 of 2025 on May 9, 2025, by the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, which declared an additional 41 national standards as mandatory,” Chizinga said.

He noted that the mandatory standards will cover solar products, food products, table wines, energy drinks, packaging materials, construction materials, and fertilizers, among others.

This now brings the total number of products regulated by the agency to 102.

“ZCSA has already started engaging different stakeholders, including the media, and training inspectors, among others,” Chizinga stated.

He appealed to the media to step up efforts in public sensitisation on product safety in order to help protect consumers and the environment.

Chizinga further urged consumers to remain vigilant when purchasing products.

“Consumers must read labels on products, to check for information such as manufacture and expire dates, to contribute to safeguarding their health,” he emphasized.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.