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The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has said that it was exploring more punitive actions and penalties for non-compliant companies to abide by set standards.
Agency Inspections Manager for Domestic Quality Monitoring, Francis Mwelwa, stated that this was to deter would-be offenders besides seizing and withdrawing products from the market.
Mwelwa said this during a stakeholder engagement training for Soweto Market Peanut Butter producers in Lusaka on Wednesday.
He said the agency recorded 15 incidences in which non-compliant Peanut Butter products were withdrawn from trading outlets in six provinces between July and September, 2023.
“This was during the Open Market Surveillance inspections aimed at ensuring that only safe products are available on the market,” Mwelwa stated.
He added that many other non-compliant products such as shoe polish, electrical fittings and connections, potable spirits, cooking oils among others were withdrawn to safeguard consumers and the environment.
Mwelwa indicated that the agency had since started the process of disposal of all non-compliant products seized in the six provinces in line with provisions of the Compulsory Standards Act No. 3 of 2017.
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“Disposal is being done in collaboration with stakeholder institutions such as local authorities to ensure compliance with relevant legislation governing disposal of products,” he said.
Mwelwa warned that offenders risk being prosecuted in line with provisions of the Compulsory Standards Act No. 3 of 2017.
He appealed to consumers across the country to only buy products from reputable suppliers for them to consume safe products.
“The Agency has decided to provide a platform for sharing of information with producers of these particular products to equip them with the technical knowledge necessary to produce safe products,” Mwelwa indicated.
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