• Zambia Metrology Agency must intensify compliance inspections of mealie meal.
• Stakeholders must ensure that the products are compliant with available standards.
• Such initiatives should be extended to other sectors and sub sectors.

Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry has directed the Zambia Metrology Agency (ZMA) to intensify compliance inspections of mealie meal and other prepackaged commodities across the country.
Speaking at the ZMA stakeholders’ engagement seminar for millers, Chipoka Mulenga said such initiatives should be extended to other sectors and sub sectors.
Mr. Mulenga has since urged stakeholders to collaborate with ZMA and other statutory bodies to ensure that the products are compliant with available standards and regulatory requirements.
“My Ministry has noted with concern, the growing trends in non-compliant mealie meal and grain meal related products to national standards and regulations on our market. For example, recently the Zambia Metrology Agency in collaboration with the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency undertook random inspections of mealie meal products and a number of manufacturers were found to be non-compliant in accordance with requirements for manufacturers, packaging and labeling,” he stated.
“Government is proactive at encouraging private sector participation to the full realization of this subsector’s potential. It is for this reason that this meeting has been organized to allow for engagement with you our Millers to try and find lasting solutions to some of the challenges being experienced in the country,” he said.
Mr. Chipoka stated that Zambia has been implementing some of the reforms such as the ease of doing business aimed at ensuring that the regulatory environment is conducive to business operations.
“As part of our effort to this initiative, Government through relevant Ministries is among other things, rationalizing investor licences, fees and levies to improve efficiency for our business community,” Mr. Mulenga stated.
He further revealed that to encourage growth in the manufacturing sector, Government is implementing Statutory Instrument No. 110 of 2020, to suspend customs duty on manufacturing raw materials not produced locally.
Speaking at the same event, ZMA Acting Executive Director Fredrick Hamutanda said the Agency noted with concern the increased non-compliance in the manufacturing, packaging, distribution and sale of pre-packed commodities.
Meanwhile, Milers Association of Zambia (MAZ) President Andrew Chintala said the Association will continue working with Government in ensuring that there is food security in the country and export quality products.