Behind the Scenes

Hatyoka Explains How ZCSA Is Protecting the Health of All Citizens by Ensuring Access to Safe Food and Drink

By Francis Maingaila

Lusaka, Zambia24, (July 27, 2025) – Behind Zambia’s supermarket shelves, water bottles, and cooking essentials lies a quiet but critical watchdog — the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA).

In the first half of 2025 alone, the agency registered 39 producers of food and beverage products across five provinces, reinforcing its mandate to protect public health and consumer safety.

ZCSA Manager – Communications and Public Relations, Brian Hatyoka, revealed that 20 producers were registered in the first quarter and 19 in the second.

"These firms operate in Lusaka, Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern provinces and are involved in producing high-consumption goods like mealie meal, peanut butter, wheat flour, cooking oil, jams, alcoholic beverages, fruit-flavoured drinks — and, most notably, packaged drinking water," Hatyoka explained.

“Most of the newly registered entities are in the packaged water sector, which has been under strict surveillance due to concerns over safety and quality,” Hatyoka added.

According to Hatyoka, only products that comply with compulsory standards are permitted on the market — and that’s not negotiable.

He noted that ZCSA was established under the Compulsory Standards Act No. 3 of 2017 and operates under the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry.

He said it is legally mandated to enforce standards for public health and safety, environmental protection, and consumer welfare.

"Any manufacturer, importer, or supplier dealing in products covered by compulsory standards is registered with the agency," he noted.

Beyond food and beverages, Hatyoka explained, ZCSA also registered companies producing fertilizers, number plates, washing detergents, electrical cables, acid lead batteries, glycerine, and poultry feed — goods that could be harmful if produced or distributed without regulation.

“The consumption of unverified food and beverages can lead to severe health consequences, including illness or death,” Hatyoka warned.

“Consumers should only purchase goods from verified outlets and avoid products of unknown origin.”

As part of its public outreach efforts, ZCSA will showcase its work at the 97th Agricultural and Commercial Show in Lusaka from July 30 to August 4, inviting citizens to learn how product regulation helps prevent dangerous goods from reaching their homes.

Currently, the agency regulates 61 product categories, including used vehicles, fuels, cement, household appliances, and textiles. Plans are underway to introduce 41 more compulsory standards targeting items like energy drinks, milk, tomato products, solar components, packaging materials, and fish.

In a market increasingly threatened by counterfeit and substandard goods, ZCSA’s work is often invisible — but vital.

Whether it’s what you eat, drink, or use in your home, the agency’s efforts are part of a broader mission: ensuring that what ends up in Zambian households is safe, legal, and up to standard.