Better Standards, Safer Market


Strict enforcement of compulsory standards strengthens local and international markets

By Francis Maingaila ♥️

Lusaka, Zambia, 7-12-2025 — The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has urged stronger measures to improve product safety and quality through strict adherence to standards and closer collaboration between industry, academia, and regulators.

According to a statement issued by Onishias Maamba, ZCSA Public Relations Officer, ZCSA Regional Manager – Domestic Quality Monitoring (South), Elias Kansembe, said at the inaugural Chemical Association of Zambia Indaba on Saturday (December 6, 2025) that gaps in compliance, particularly in product packaging, pose risks to consumers and the environment.

Kansembe, speaking on behalf of Gerald Chizinga, ZCSA Executive Director, said, “Some producers are packaging products without adhering to standards. 

These issues can be addressed effectively through enhanced collaboration between regulators, industry, and academia.”

He emphasized that manufacturers of products covered by compulsory standards must fully comply with legal requirements before releasing products to the market.

 Compliance not only protects consumers but also strengthens confidence in local and international markets.

“Consumers trust products that are safe, credible, and of high quality. Adhering to standards is key to maintaining that trust,” he added.

The Compulsory Standards Act No. 3 of 2017 requires all producers and importers of products covered by compulsory standards to meet the relevant requirements to prevent harm to consumers or the environment.

ZCSA, a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, currently regulates 102 products, including food and beverages, chemicals, construction and packaging materials, household electrical appliances, petroleum products, fertilizers, and used textiles. Its mandate is to enforce compulsory standards to safeguard public safety, health, and consumer rights.

© 2025. All rights reserved.

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