By Conrad Mwango
The 2024 national open market surveillance inspections aimed at checking compliance levels on 61 products have started in nine provinces covered by compulsory standards. 
Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency-ZCSA acting communication and public relations manager Brian Hatyoka says the exercise is covering both locally manufactured and imported food products.
Mr. Hatyoka explains that the exercise which will run from November 11, 2024 to November 25, 2024 will ensure non-compliant products are seized, withdrawn from the market and destroyed in line with the law.
He says the exercise will also assist the agency to identify new and unregistered suppliers of products covered by compulsory standards.
In 2023, the agency conducted its national open market surveillance inspections in six provinces covering 22 districts and 64 localities, where 2,540 trading outlets were inspectes, and 35 products leading to non-compliance of 150.
Mr. Hatyoka adds that the combined compliance rate for 2023 in six provinces stood at 89 per cent from 85 per cent recorded in 2022 in the same provinces, thereby showing an increase of four per cent.
