• Only COVID -19 Test Kits listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for Emergency Use
• The authority has noted with concern the number of COVID -19 Test Kits being imported into the country
• The authority is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Health Pathology and Laboratory Services Unit

Zambia Medicines and Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) has warned traders involved in illegal importation of COVID -19 Test Kits for placement on the Zambia market that if found wanting, legal proceedings will be instituted against such.

ZAMRA Senior Public Relations Officer Christabel Illiampu further urged dealers of medical devices that only COVID -19 Test Kits listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for Emergency Use and COVID -19 Test Kits that have successfully undergone performance evaluation by the Ministry of Health shall be allowed to be imported into Zambia.

Ms. Illiampu said the authority has noted with concern the number of COVID -19 Test Kits being imported into the country without following laid down regulatory procedures which has increased the likelihood of entry of substandard COVID-19 Test Kits on the Zambian market.

“In the quest of ensuring that only COVID -19 Test Kits that meet the set standards of quality safety and performance are available for use in Zambia, the Authority is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Health Pathology and Laboratory Services Unit with regards to undertaking performance verification of these critical products.” she noted.

Ms. Illiampu has since stated that ZAMRA was established under the Medicines and Allied Substances Act (No.3) of 2013 to ensure that all medicines and allied substances being made available to the Zambian people meet the required standard of quality, safety, performance and efficacy throughout the chain of manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution, storage and sale.