ZCSA Commends Improved Product Compliance in Muchinga Province
The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has expressed satisfaction with the general level of compliance for regulated food products and beverages in Muchinga Province.
According to Brian Hatyoka, Manager of Communications and Public Relations at ZCSA, the Agency has noted a significant reduction in non-compliance, thanks to measures such as public education, factory inspections, market surveillance, and quarterly joint food safety inspections conducted with other government institutions.
In March 2025, a joint market surveillance exercise covering 25 trading outlets resulted in the seizure of non-compliant products valued at K6,695. The inspections covered Nambuluma area, Kabuta Market, the Old Market, and the New Market in Chinsali’s Central Business District.
Seized products included expired, counterfeit, and banned items, as well as goods that were poorly labelled or packaged, or labelled solely in foreign languages.
ZCSA, in collaboration with other government agencies, plans to conduct further market surveillance inspections on fertilisers in Chinsali, Nakonde, Isoka, Mpika, Shiwang’andu, Lavushimanda and Kanchibiya in October 2025. Additional market and factory inspections will take place in Mpika, Chinsali, Isoka, Mafinga and Nakonde.
Factory registration in Muchinga Province has risen sharply, increasing from just one in 2017 to around 15 in 2025. Registered facilities include six number plate companies, four milling plants, factories producing edible crude oil, refined edible oil, laundry soap, bottled water, and potable spirits.
Mr Hatyoka emphasised that ZCSA expects more companies to register with the Agency to ensure their products are authorised before entering the market, in line with the Compulsory Standards Act, which safeguards consumer health and safety.
The Agency is committed to supporting producers in Muchinga and beyond to comply with required standards, enabling them not only to access local markets but also to expand internationally.
At a national level, compliance increased from 93 per cent in 2023 to 94 per cent in 2024, reflecting a positive trend.
ZCSA is also participating in the ongoing Muchinga Province Investment Forum and Exposition (EXPO) in Chinsali, running from 15–19 September 2025. The event, themed “Promoting Investment for a Green and Healthy Environment through Sustainable Development”, highlights the province’s opportunities in agriculture, tourism, energy, manufacturing, and mining.
The Agency is mandated by the Compulsory Standards Act No.3 of 2017 to administer and enforce compulsory standards to protect public safety, health, consumers, and the environment.
