“THEY IS NEED TO SENSITIZE OR EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON COMPULSORY STANDARDS” Thole

By Daily News Reporter

Eastern Province Permanent Secretary, Paul Thole, has called ZCSA to give more public awareness on products which are covered by compulsory standards so that consumers are protected from unsafe products on the market.

Mr Thole said more should be done to educate people on regulated locally manufactured and imported products to enable the public make informed choices.

(According to a statement issued to Daily News by ZCSA Public Relations Officer  Maamba Onishias Kamana), He was speaking in his office in Chipata when a delegation from the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) paid a courtesy call on him on the sidelines of the 2024 Ncwala traditional ceremony.

Mr Thole said Eastern Province has seen an increase in cooperatives that are involved in food processing and hence it is important to ensure that such products are safe, reliable and of high quality.

“ZCSA need to have a proactive approach in enforcing compliance on compulsory standards and appealed to the Agency not to relent in its mandate,” He said

 “Here in Eastern Province, we are having an increase in value addition of agro products. The World Bank is sponsoring women driven agro-cooperatives. The women have established production centres in about four districts of Eastern province and there is need to enhance quality on these products,” he said.

He further urged ZCSA not to be punitive especially on upcoming food processors, adding that the Agency must been seen to be guiding producers with best manufacturing practices.

He said some cooperatives in the province have started producing stock feed locally using raw materials from maize and groundnuts.

Mr Thole said his office will fully support ZCSA’s mandate of ensuring public safety, health, environmental and consumer protection.

The Permanent Secretary noted that some locally manufactured alcoholic drinks were harmful to consumers.

“We agree with what you are advocating especially when it comes to the safety of our people in terms of food products and beverages which they consume. For example, the alcohol content of the locally produced beer for example ‘Kachasu, and spirits is very high. I feel for inspectors because it is a challenge for them to go and regulate the ‘Kachasu’ brewing,” he said.

Mr Thole also expressed concern that some people are currently having strange diseases after wearing second undergarments.

He says although some people have resisted the Agency’s stance on used undergarments, there is need to find ways of amicably resolving the problem.

“On consumables such as second hand inner clothing, we totally agree with you that such clothing should not be allowed on the market especially that we don’t know the health status of people who were wearing the used undergarments.

Mr Thole assured that his office is ready to support ZCSA officers in Eastern province so that they carry out their duties effectively.

Meanwhile ZCSA Head of Communications Brian Hatyoka said his Agency is currently exhibiting at the 2024 Ncwala traditional ceremony in Mtenguleni village, Chipata.

Mr Hatyoka said ZCSA will host a roadshow in Chipata at Saturday Market on Sunday, February 25, 2024 to educate the public on dangers of  embracing unregulated potable spirits and health risks associated with wearing of used undergarments.

“ZCSA would also like to talk about common locally produced products in Eastern Province such as peanut butter, maize meal, cooking oil and packaged drinking water. The message generally is to encourage people producing, packaging and supplying these products illegally to formalise their businesses and register with the Agency as required by the Compulsory Standards Act No. 3 of 2017,” he said.

Mr Hatyoka said Eastern Province, being an agricultural inclined region, presents many opportunities for growth in the area of small and medium scale agro-processing for products like peanut butter, maize meal, crude and refined edible vegetable oil, poultry feed and other products which ZCSA regulate.

“We, therefore, appeal to your office, Permanent Secretary, to support the Agency in educating the public on the importance of producing and consuming safe products to safeguard the health of consumers,” he said.