"The GOAT Media Centre"

Journalists from across Zambia attend ZCSA workshop to report effectively on new compulsory standards protecting public health and consumer rights By Francis Maingaila ♥️  LUSAKA, Zambia24 (26 September 2025) – The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) is holding a media training workshop today, designed to equip journalists with the knowledge and skills to accurately inform the public on product safety, consumer rights, and public health ahead of the enforcement of 41 new compulsory standards on October 1, 2025. Executive Director Gerald Chizinga said the updated regulations, introduced through Statutory Instrument No. 20 of 2025, expand ZCSA’s oversight from 61 to 102 product categories, covering solar equipment, food items, energy drinks, table wines, packaging materials, construction materials, fertilizers, and other products critical to consumer safety and market integrity. “These are not just rules; they are safeguards that protect Zambians from unsafe products, promote f...

ZCSA applauds improved product standards in the Province and pledges tougher inspections to safeguard consumers, public health, and the environment. By Francis Maingaila Lusaka, Zambia24 - (September 16, 2025) – The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has placed a stricter watch on products in Muchinga Province, commending improved compliance with regulated goods while vowing to intensify inspections to protect consumers, public health, and the environment from unsafe and compromised items. According to ZCSA Communications and Public Relations Manager, Brian Hatyoka, the Agency noted that compliance has improved significantly due to targeted interventions such as factory inspections, market surveillance, public education campaigns, and quarterly joint food safety inspections conducted with other government institutions. Hatyoka revealed that in March 2025, ZCSA and other state agencies carried out a joint market surveillance inspection covering 25 trading outlets in Chinsali. ...

High-quality, regulated farming inputs ensure food security, promote fair trade, support economic growth, and safeguard the environment. By Francis Maingaila  Lusaka, Zambia24  - (1-09-2025) - The Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, in partnership with the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA), Zambia Metrology Agency (ZMA), Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI), and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), has launched joint inspections of farming inputs under the 2025/2026 Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). The flagging-off ceremony, which took place on 1st September 2025 at Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ), represents a pivotal step toward safeguarding national food security, promoting fair trade, fostering economic development, and protecting the environment. Additionally, Angelina Mukuka, Acting Permanent Secretary reading on behalf of PS Lillian Bwalya, explained that the inspections are crucial to ensuring farmers receive fertili...

Over 100 bales valued at over K500,000 of banned garments destroyed in three years. By Francis Maingaila Lusaka, Zambia24  - (24-08-2025) — The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has flagged the illegal trade in used undergarments and nightwear as a serious public health hazard, warning that offenders will face strict action. Executive Director Gerald Chizinga said items such as underwear, pyjamas, bras, tights, camisoles and nightgowns pose significant health risks because they are worn in close contact with the skin.    “These products can transmit fungal infections, skin irritations, and even sexually transmitted diseases. This is why the trade in such garments is banned under Statutory Instrument No. 120 of 2006, which enforces the compulsory Zambian Standard ZS 559,” Chizinga explained. He emphasized that violators will be prosecuted and have their consignments seized and destroyed.  “This is not merely a regulatory matter — it is about safeguarding publi...

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 th...

By Francis Maingaila Lusaka, January 21, 2025 — The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) is intensifying its efforts to strengthen regulations in the energy sector to improve consumer and environmental safety. In a statement issued by ZCSA Public Relations Officer Onishias Maamba, Executive Director Gerald Chizinga affirmed the agency’s commitment to developing and enforcing mandatory standards aimed at bolstering safety across the energy sector. Addressing the Parliamentary Committee on Energy, Water Development, and Tourism, Chizinga underscored the importance of enhancing the regulatory framework to ensure the sector’s long-term sustainability. "Product safety is essential not only for protecting consumers and the environment but also for the continued viability of the energy sector," Chizinga remarked during the session, which was chaired by Sesheke Member of Parliament, Romeo Kang'ombe. Chizinga also highlighted the need for increased private sector involv...

ZCSA Destroys Unsafe Goods Worth K163,984 to Protect Consumers By Francis Maingaila Lusaka, Zambia - January 17, 2025 – The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has destroyed electrical appliances and fruit-flavored drinks valued at K163,984 in Lusaka for failing to meet mandatory safety standards. The goods included adaptor extension cables and water heating elements worth K152,464, confiscated on November 7, 2024, from Express Mart on Nangwenya Road.  Additionally, fruit-flavored drinks valued at K11,520 were seized on May 11, 2024, from Kamwala outlets. ZCSA Manager for Communications and Public Relations, Brian Hatyoka, stated that these products violated compulsory standards ZS 558 and ZS 106, as well as the Compulsory Standards Act No. 3 of 2017. “The confiscated electrical items had non-compatible plugs, inadequate insulation, and incorrect amperage ratings, which posed serious risks such as electric shocks, fires, and property damage,” he said. The fruit-flavored drinks, ...

ZCSA Dismantles and Destroy Unsafe Goods to Consumer Safety Worth K163,984 in Lusa ka By Francis Maingaila ♥️  LUSAKA, January 17, 2025 – The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has destroyed electrical appliances and fruit-flavored drinks valued at K163,984 in Lusaka for failing to meet mandatory safety standards. The goods included adaptor extension cables and water heating elements worth K152,464, confiscated on November 7, 2024, from Express Mart on Nangwenya Road. ZCSA Acting Manager for Communications and Public Relations, Brian Hatyoka, stated that these products violated compulsory standards ZS 558 and ZS 106, as well as the Compulsory Standards Act No. 3 of 2017. “The confiscated electrical items had non-compatible plugs, inadequate insulation, and incorrect amperage ratings, which posed serious risks such as electric shocks, fires, and property damage,” he said. Fruit-flavored drinks worth K11,520 were also seized on May 11, 2024, from Kamwala outlets. Branded as...

.... As Chizinga urges for Public Vigilance on Product Safety and environmental protection  By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia – (31-12-2024) – The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) nationwide market surveillance inspections conducted in 2024 have revealed significant improvements in product safety and compliance, with the overall compliance rate rising from 92.8% in 2023 to 93.4%. ZCSA Executive Director Gerald Chizinga presented the findings at the end-of-year media briefing, highlighting the progress made despite challenges, including the adverse effects of drought conditions. He stated, “As we close 2024, it is an honor to reflect on the year's progress, particularly in the face of challenges. Our national open market surveillance inspections, conducted in Lusaka, Central, Southern, Muchinga, Northern, Northwestern, Western, and Copperbelt provinces, have yielded encouraging results.” The agency regulates 61 product categories under the Compulsory Standards Act No....

... ZCSA and MBS Seek Collaborative Solutions to Drive Regional Trade Growth By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia  - (18-12-2024) - The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) and the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) have called for greater collaboration to enhance trade between the two countries by ensuring better compliance with compulsory standards, aimed at facilitating access to regional and international markets. According to a statement issued by Brian Hatyoka, Acting Manager for Communications and Public Relations at ZCSA, Executive Director Gerald Chizinga emphasized the importance of closer cooperation between ZCSA and MBS.  "The role of both institutions is crucial in advancing the economic priorities of their respective governments," Chizinga said. Chizinga further highlighted that ZCSA’s mandate includes collaborating with international organizations, such as MBS, to enforce compulsory standards.  He noted that the recent visit by MBS officials to Zambia pro...

.... ZCSA Confiscates Non-Compliant Goods Valued at K282,171.50 By Francis Maingaila Lusaka, Zambia - (November 24, 2024) – The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has conducted a major enforcement operation, seizing 1,444 non-compliant electrical products in Lusaka valued at K45,451.50 and restricting 651 assorted goods worth K236,720.  Brian Hatyoka, Acting Communication and Public Relations Manager, told journalists in a statement that the ongoing Open Market Surveillance (OMS) inspections, conducted from November 11 to 15, 2024, across key areas such as Town Centre, Soweto Market, and the Intercity Bus Terminus, had led to the seizure of non-compliant items valued at K282,171.50. Hatyoka  said that electrical fittings and connections accounted for the highest proportion of seized products, making up 83 percent of the total.  Other non-compliant items included fruit-flavored drinks, washing detergents, and potable spirits.  According to Hatyoka, Inspectors identified a range o...

.... ZCSA aim to provide Protection to Consumers through Standards By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia — November 20, 2024 — The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) is urging businesses to prioritize safety by adhering to established standards for both imported and locally produced products, reflecting the agency’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding public well-being. According to a statement issued by Onishias Maamba, ZCSA's Public Relations Officer, ZCSA Executive Director Gerald Chizinga was speaking in Lusaka during an engagement meeting between ZCSA and representatives from chain stores.  During this  session, ZCSA Executive Director Gerald Chizinga, stressed the importance of complying with the Compulsory Standards Act No. 3 of 2017.  "This meeting provided an opportunity for participants to gain a clearer understanding of the legal requirements for product safety," Chizinga stated.  He highlighted that the responsibility for ensuring consumer protection i...

...Training Aims to Strengthen Integrity and Transparency Across ZCSA Operations By Francis Maingaila Lusaka, Zambia (12-11-2024) – The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has partnered with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to conduct a five-day Integrity Committee Induction training aimed at fostering transparency and combating corruption.  The training, being held at Protea Hotel in Lusaka, is designed to equip ZCSA staff from both the head office and provincial offices with the skills needed to prevent unethical practices and promote integrity within the agency. ZCSA Executive Director, Mr. Gerald Chizinga, commended the ACC for its continued support in the fight against corruption, emphasizing that all institutions, including ZCSA, share the responsibility of preventing corrupt practices. “Every organization, including ZCSA, has a role to play in combating corruption,” Mr. Chizinga stated. “In 2018, we established the Integrity Committee with the ACC’s assistance to insti...

Hatyoka ... Hatyoka says the Surveillance Aims to Ensure Consumer Safety and Environmental Protection By Francis Maingaila Lusaka,Zambia24 - (November 10, 2024) - The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has launched its 2024 National Open Market Surveillance (OMS) inspections in nine provinces to enforce compliance with national standards on 61 types of products.  The inspections, which will run from November 11 to November 25, aim to assess both locally manufactured and imported goods. In a statement issued on Sunday, Brian Hatyoka, Acting Manager for Communications and Public Relations at ZCSA, said, "The inspections will cover a wide range of products, including food, beverages, animal feed, chemicals, engineering products, household electrical appliances, fertilizers, and used textiles."  The inspections are taking place in the Eastern, Central, Lusaka, Southern, Western, Copperbelt, North-Western, Muchinga, and Northern provinces. Hatyoka emphasized that the ZCSA, ...

.... ZCSA and ERB Monitor Innovative Transportation Method for Compliance and Safety By Francis Maingaila Lusaka, Zambia24  - (31-10-2024) -The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) and the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) have jointly addressed the public regarding a new pilot project involving the transportation of diesel using bladder bags on flatbed trucks.  This project, currently in its trial phase, is unlicensed and does not align with existing regulations for petroleum-based flammable liquids. According to Brian Hatyoka, Acting Manager of Communications and Public Relations at ZCSA, and Namukolo Kasumpa, Manager of Public Relations at ERB, only one entity has been granted authorization for this three-month trial, which began on September 16, 2024.  During this period, the duo explained in the statement that the ZCSA and ERB will closely monitor compliance with safety protocols, and the findings are expected to inform future regulatory approaches to this innovative transportati...

... The Agency acts to protect and provide public safety by removing hazardous items from Lusaka market. By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia24  - (31-10-2024) - The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has destroyed non-compliant electrical products valued at K42,090 in Lusaka, following the seizure of various electrical items, including cables, adaptors, kettles, plate cookers, and toasters, during an enforcement operation conducted in May 2024. The products were withdrawn from multiple retail locations in Lusaka, including Kamwala Trading Area, Oasis, Westgate, and Levy Malls, for failing to meet relevant compulsory standards.  Notably, 56 plugs, sockets, and adaptors did not comply with required color coding, while 1,442 other items were found non-compliant with Zambian Standard 558, which governs plugs and socket outlets, adaptors, and connection units. According to a statement issued by Onishius Maamba, the ZCSA Public Relations Officer, these non-compliant products posed...

...Collaborative Efforts to Combat Harmful Substances in Paint and Protect Public Health Gain Momentum By Francis Maingaila Lusaka, Zambia24 – (22-10-2024) -The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has signaled its willingness to collaborate with the Children Environmental Health Foundation (CEHF) and other stakeholders in refining and improving regulations to include lead poisoning, which is not currently covered under compulsory standards.  Speaking at a consultative meeting held on October 22, 2024, at the Grand Palace Hotel in Lusaka, ZCSA Executive Director Gerald Chizinga emphasized the need for establishing a compulsory standard for lead content in paint, an area that ZCSA does not yet regulate, to better safeguard public health and the environment. The meeting, held on October 22, 2024, is part of the International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW), which marks 12 years of global action to eliminate lead in paint. The primary objectives of ILPPW are to raise awarenes...

... Hatyoka says the destroyed non-compliant products are valued over K900,000 By Francis Maingaila  Lusaka, Zambia24 (19-02 - 2024 ) - The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) demonstrated its commitment to upholding standards by disposing of non-compliant products valued at K903,930. Brian Hatyoka, Head of Communications at ZCSA, told Zambia24 in statement that the confiscated products in Lusaka, including sockets, adaptors, Top Plugs, shoe polish, rubber condoms, incandescent bulbs, electric cables, gear oil, and used undergarments, were destroyed. Additionally, food and beverage items such as clear beer, biscuits, peanut butter, edible oil, opaque beer, mealie meal, jams, marmalades, wheat flour, animal feed, bottled water, and fruit-flavored drinks met the same fate. Hatyoka emphasized that this action aligns with guidelines outlined in the Compulsory Standards Act No. 3 of 2017, enabling ZCSA to protect public safety, health, and the environment. He warned manufacturers, imp...