The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has made strides and milestones in the compliance monitoring of male latex condoms to protect the end users.

This is in accordance with the requirements of the compulsory standard, ZS ISO 4074.

Agency Spokesperson Lee Haamunji tells Money FM News that in achieving this landmark, ZCSA is partnering with the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) and the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) with the sponsorship of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to ensure that the condoms that are imported and tested in the country are safe for use.

“Last week, the four organizations held a workshop from 14th to 17th August 2018 in Lusaka where they discussed the possibility of a condom quality partnership.”

“The meeting was convened by the Ministry of Health, in coordination with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA), the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) and the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA)”, Mr. Haamunji has disclosed.

Mr. Haamunji says quality and safety of condoms is a great concern, especially that this product is used in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases/infections in human beings.

He adds that it was therefore heartening to have participants to this meeting such as Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe who also conduct condom testing as well as have local condom manufacturers.

In 2017, a network of laboratories, AfroCondomNet, was established to facilitate information sharing among National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs).

Mr. Haamunji states that the purpose of this meeting was to review performance of the AfroCondomNet and to improve knowledge on critical aspects of testing of condoms in line with ISO 4074 an international standard on safety parameters of condoms.

He further states that essentially the condoms that are produced or imported in the country should be in conformity with these provisions.

He has emphasized that some of the critical testing parameters include: freedom from holes, bursting volume and pressure properties, quality and package seal integrity among others.

Mr. Haamunji says product labelling is also a critical compliance parameter that is checked.