ZABS inspects 37 shops, confiscates products
Published On September 22, 2015 » 1353 Views» By Administrator Times » Business, Stories
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Zambia Bereau of StandardsBy MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA –

THE Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) has inspected 37 shops in Mwinilunga and Ikelenge districts, confiscating K5,000 worthy of products.
ZABS head of marketing and public relations Hazel Zulu said her organisation had inspected 37 shops in Mwinilunga and Ikelenge in North-Western Province to check the levels of compliance on regulated products.
Ms Zulu said they conducted market surveillances and inspections i to assess levels of compliance on products that fell under mandatory standards.
“The Bureau undertook a joint operation together with personnel from the local authorities and the District Health Management Board between September 8 and 9, 2015.
“During the operation, ZABS was checking on products that fall under mandatory standards in reference to the Standards Act while the local authorities were using the Food and Drugs Act,” Ms Zulu said.
She said this in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday.
Ms Zulu said five rejections were issued on failed products in Mwinilunga and three rejection notices were issued in Ikelenge District.
“The products were confiscated because they were either expired products or labelled in Portuguese as some of the products were believed to have been smuggled into the country from Angola,” Ms Zulu
said.
Expired products included cooking oil, biscuits and margarine.
Products that were labelled in Portuguese were energy drinks, clear beer and fruit juices.
Ms Zulu said the total estimated cost of the products rejected and confiscated during the operation was K5,000 with Mwinilunga recording a value of K4,000 and Ikelenge recording a value of K1,000.
“ZABS would like to caution the public against buying and using products that are expired as the quality of expired products cannot be guaranteed.
Products whose quality is not assured can be a risk to the health and safety of consumers and a deterrent to the economic development of the country.
“ZABS would also like to alert traders against selling products that are labelled in foreign languages as it is a violation of the Standards Act, Cap 416 of the Laws of Zambia,” she said.
Ms Zulu urged consumers to report any such products to the ZABS offices so that appropriate action could be taken immediately.

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