Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has in collaboration with three Local Authorities in North-Western Province seized assorted goods worth over K4, 985 following three separate joint inspection operations conducted in over 56 trading places in February 2018.
CCPC Public Relations Officer Namukolo Kasumpa tells QFM News in a statement that the items seized include soft drinks, biscuits, juices, baking powder, yeast, toothpaste, blue band butter and Cosmetics all which had expired or were insufficiently labeled.
She says these items did not meet the mandatory product information standards set by Section 50 of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act No. 24 of 2010 and the Food and Drugs Regulations under the Food and Drugs Act Cap 303 of the Laws of Zambia.
Ms Kasumpa states that the seizure of the goods was conducted during a sensitization and advocacy tour of the province aimed at sensitizing consumers on their rights and obligations.
And CCPC North-Western Provincial Investigator, James Chalungumana says expired food items contributed over 90 percent of the products seized.
He says this situation is very worrying as the products hinge directly on the lives of the consumers.
Mr. Chalungumana has advised consumers to take their obligations seriously by ensuring that they always check for labels and expiry dates on all food and non-food items to ensure the products are at their highest level of quality for their intended use.
The Local authorities involved in the exercise are Mufumbwe, Manyinga and Kabompo Districts Councils.