info.afrindex.com
China-Africa Trade Information Service
info.afrindex.com
China-Africa Trade Information Service
photo from Internet
Fake Mazoe drink is investigated in Zambia by ZASA(the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency), the kind of drink can do harm to the health of human and animal.
ZCSA Spokesperson Lee Haamunji says the agency will carry out its mandate to ensure that the product is safe for human consumption, because the agency also regulates the product.
Haamunji notes that he is aware that the Zambian company that was locally producing Mazoe and other products is no longer doing so, adding that the majority of the product currently on market shelves are imported.
“The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) is carrying out its routine market surveillances and testing of a Mazoe drink believed to be contaminated for the safety of the consumers in the country,” Haamunji said in a statement today.
“The background is that a known Zambian company was locally producing Mazoe and other products in Zambia. We are aware that this company may no longer be in production and as such the majority of the product currently on market shelves is imported.”
Haamunji adds that although ZCSA has not yet found any contaminated drinks, from the imported products, the agency is aware that the product enter the country through small consignments brought in by cross border traders .
The ZCSA spokesperson states that because of this, testing of the products will continue.
“We have not identified any contaminated samples from what has entered the borders so far. But ZCSA is aware that the product does find its way through small consignments brought in by small scale entrepreneurs and cross border traders.
“We are therefore carrying out market surveillances and will report on the samples tested against our standard for fruit flavored drinks once we have results.”
Haamunji says Mazoe is one of the fast-moving consumer goods and its safety and quality should never be compromised.
“Mazoe is one of the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and such the safety and quality of the product should never be compromised. ZCSA is further calling upon manufacturers to adhere to the available compulsory standards when they manufacturing their products to assure quality and safety of the products to end users.
“Mazoe is one of the products that ZCSA regulates and the Agency will carry on its mandate to ensure that the products that are safe and guarantees quality,” Haamunji stated.
