ZCSA Seizes 69 Boxes of Used Underwear Over Health Risks
The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has seized 69 boxes of used underwear in Rufunsa District during an enforcement operation, citing health risks associated with imported or donated undergarments.
The seized items were part of a larger consignment of used textiles recently donated to a faith-based organisation in Rufunsa. Their importation and distribution contravened the Zambian Standard (ZS) 559: Inspection and Acceptance Criteria for Used Textile Products, which explicitly prohibits used underwear such as pyjamas, bras, tights, camisoles, nightgowns and vests.
ZCSA carried out the seizure on 9 October 2025, pending disposal in accordance with the Compulsory Standards Act No. 3 of 2017. The Agency warned that undergarments previously worn close to the skin can transmit ailments including skin rashes, fungal infections and sexually transmitted infections, making the importation of such products a public health concern.
Brian Hatyoka, ZCSA Manager for Communications and Public Relations, urged importers and recipients of donated used textiles to stop handling such products immediately. He also encouraged the public to report banned or non-compliant textiles to the nearest ZCSA office.
ZCSA will host a sensitisation roadshow for marketers and traders at Maramba Market in Livingstone on Friday, 17 October 2025, from 10:00 to 13:00 hours. The session will cover the dangers of used undergarments, unregulated potable spirits, and other products governed by compulsory standards. Hatyoka called on residents to attend in large numbers to protect their health.
The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency, mandated by Compulsory Standards Act No.3 of 2017, is tasked with ensuring compliance with compulsory standards to safeguard public safety, health, and consumer protection.
