Food Safety First

... ZCSA in Collaboration with Industry and Public to Uphold Strict Safety Standards Is Mobilizing Science-Based Strategies to Protect Zambia’s Food Supply

By Francis Maingaila ♥️

Lusaka, Zambia24 - (29-05-2025) – The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has intensified its regulatory oversight and public sensitisation efforts ahead of this year’s World Food Safety Day, commemorated annually on June 7.

The Agency is leading the national awareness campaign as Chair of the Awareness Sub-Committee under the Ministry of Health-led Main Organising Committee.

Through this platform, ZCSA is reinforcing its mandate to safeguard public health and consumer welfare by ensuring food safety remains a national priority.

This year’s global theme, “Food Safety – Science in Action,” underscores the indispensable role of science in identifying and mitigating contamination risks across the food supply chain.

ZCSA is embracing this approach by driving broad stakeholder participation and launching expansive education initiatives throughout the country.

"These efforts are intended to equip producers, vendors, and consumers with science-based knowledge and practices to uphold food safety."

The Agency explains that food safety is a continuous, end-to-end process, beginning with the sourcing of raw materials and extending through every stage of production, handling, packaging, labelling, storage, and final distribution.

ZCSA cautions that lapses at any point in this cycle can lead to outbreaks of foodborne diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, or harmful chemical residues — with consequences that affect not only individual health, but also national development.

Operating under the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, ZCSA enforces compulsory standards on a wide array of commonly consumed food and beverage products.

The agency’s regulatory scope includes vital staples such as mealie meal, wheat flour, peanut butter, biscuits, white sugar, and both refined and crude edible vegetable oils.

In the beverage sector, ZCSA oversees the quality and safety of opaque and clear beer, bottled drinking water, potable spirits, and fruit-flavoured soft drinks.

Given the widespread consumption of these items, ZCSA considers them critical focus areas for regulatory scrutiny to minimise public exposure to unsafe products.

In recognition of ongoing challenges—particularly in areas with insufficient compliance—ZCSA has stepped up inspections, market surveillance, and collaboration with industry players, including manufacturers, distributors, and retailers.

These actions are aimed at not only enforcing safety protocols but also fostering accountability and ethical conduct throughout the supply chain.

In a statement shared on its official Facebook page, ZCSA stressed that food safety is a shared responsibility that goes beyond regulators.

“Every actor in the food system—producers, processors, vendors, and consumers—must ensure that what ends up on the plate is safe, nutritious, and free from harmful contaminants,” the agency stated.

As part of the 2025 World Food Safety Day commemorations, ZCSA is spearheading nationwide campaigns to raise awareness, promote responsible practices, and advocate for the adoption of science-driven food safety measures at all levels of the industry.

World Food Safety Day serves as a global reminder of the need to prevent foodborne diseases, enhance public nutrition, and support sustainable food systems.

ZCSA concluded its statement by reaffirming its unwavering commitment to protecting the health of Zambians and strengthening public confidence in food systems — grounded in its enduring motto:

“With Your Safety in Mind.”