Standards body, Chongwe Council dispose substandard Urea fertiliser

A JOINT team of officers from the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) and Chongwe Municipal Council yesterday disposed of 36x 50-kilogram bags of substandard urea fertilizer valued at K32, 400.

This follows a court order on December 15, 2023 by the Chongwe Magistrate’s Court.

In a joint statement by ZCSA Public Relations Officer, Onishias Maamba and Chongwe Municipal Council Public Relation Officer, Peter Sukwa, they said the disposal was done with the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) to ensure compliance with the Environmental Management Act and avoid any adverse environmental impact, as required by the Compulsory Standards Act No.3 of 2017.

They said ZCSA seized Granular urea fertiliser on December 14, 2023 from Fumigate Zambia Limited and handed the non-compliant product to Chongwe Municipal Council.

“Afterwards, the council obtained a disposal order from the Magistrate Court. The urea fertiliser was seized for contravening Section 16 of the Compulsory Standards Act No. 3 of 2017 and the Zambian Standard ZS 605: Fertilisers- Urea Specification.

Further, the substandard fertiliser contravened the Public Health Act Cap 295 of the laws of Zambia. ZCSA and Chongwe Municipal Council warns of stern action against companies which are manufacturing and supplying products on the market in contravention of applicable laws.

“This is because the safety of such products cannot be guaranteed and may pose a risk to public safety, health and the environment. The authorities will continue conducting joint enforcement activities in a bid to ensure that only safe products are allowed on the market. onsumers are also urged to buy products from reputable sources and report any suspicious product to the nearest agency office,” part of the statement said.