ZCSA impressed with compliance levels of bottled drinking water in Ndola
KITWE, May 29, 2024.
The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) is impressed with compliance levels for bottled drinking water being supplied on the market in Ndola District of Copperbelt Province.
A recent market surveillance inspection conducted by ZCSA in Masala, Chifubu, Twapya, Pamodzi and Town Centre in Ndola District has revealed that the bottled drinking water in most trading outlets is compliant with the Zambian Standard – ZS 388: Bottled Drinking Water – Specification.
The general compliance levels for bottled drinking water in the surveyed Townships currently stands at 82 percent compared to 78 percent recorded last year.
38 manufacturers, brands and trading outlets inspected were complaint while eight were non-compliant according to the findings of the market surveillance inspection.
The nature of the non-compliance incidents included failure to register with ZCSA as required by the Compulsory Standards Act and failure to indicate batch numbers on the products, which are key in ensuring product traceability.
The Agency has since taken samples of the non-compliant bottled drinking water to the laboratory for further analysis.
ZCSA is urging manufacturers, importers and traders of products covered by compulsory standards to register with the Agency for them to legally supply products on the market.
No one is legally allowed to supply any product covered by a compulsory standard without authority from the Agency.
All non-compliant products will be seized and withdrawn from the market to protect consumers and the environment.
Consumers should contribute to safeguarding their health by only buying products from reputable and registered suppliers.
The public must also report to the nearest office any individual or firms involved in the illegal production and supply of drinking bottled water on the market.
ZCSA inspects factories producing bottled/Packaged drinking water for compliance both to Good Manufacturing Practices and to the compulsory standard for bottled drinking water.
ZCSA, a statutory body under Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, is mandated by the Compulsory Standards Act No. 3 of 2017, to administer, maintain and enforce compulsory standards for the purpose of public safety, health, consumer and environmental protection.
Issued by: ORIGINAL COPY SIGNED
BRIAN HATYOKA| ACTING MANAGER – COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
