ALLEGED DUMPING OF VEGETABLES ON THE LOCAL MARKET
2022-08-08
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (Commission) has noted with concern the call by the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) to farmers to “refrain from dumping” several fresh vegetables on the local market.
This call is an afront to limiting access to markets to the various farmers that are producing to scale and is against the spirit of competition promotion. Encouraging competition by limiting production will only serve to disadvantage the local economy and will subject consumers to higher prices. Instead, stakeholders should be seen to encourage scaling up production, value addition and linkages including with export markets.
While Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are instrumental and requires nurturing, that should be done through capacity and scale to match up and not discouraging the established to scale down. We therefore would like to guide Associations such as the ZNFU and other institutions that unwarranted interference with markets that result in anti-competitive outcomes only disadvantage Zambian enterprises in the long run. Any form of output quotas, production cuts, fixing of prices or any other anti-competitive conduct should not be encouraged. ZNFU should take the advice of the Republican President to open up to new opportunities that the surplus vegetables bring such as promoting export markets and setting up cold storage facilities.
The Commission would like to encourage the farmers to continue supplying the markets the best they can and to expand production through value addition and market linkages more so with our SMEs.
Rainford Mutabi
Over K19,000 Worth of Expired Goods Seized in Kasama and Zimba Districts
2022-06-24
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) in partnership with a joint team of health inspectors from Kasama Municipal and Zimba District Councils (KMZDC) have seized assorted expired goods worth K19,016.35 during inspections conducted in Kasama and Zimba districts of Northern and Southern provinces respectively. The inspections were conducted on 10th to 17th of June, 2022 in 128 trading premises of Kasama and Zimba Central Business Districts (CBDs).
The seized goods include assorted carbonated drinks, biscuits and cosmetic products among others. The goods were expired and therefore not fit for human consumption. Selling or offering for sale products not fit for purpose or expired is against the Competition and Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) No. 24 of 2010 as well as the Food and Safety Act No. 7 of 2019.
In light of this, CCPC and its partners wish to advise the traders to abide by the law and desist from engaging in unfair trading practices or any conduct that erode consumer welfare.
Additionally, all suppliers, retailers and distributors are warned to seize selling unsuitable products which have exceeded their shelf life.
Meanwhile, consumers are advised to be proactive and report perpetrators of such unfair trading practices by calling CCPC’s toll-free line 5678 or visiting any of its offices located countrywide or any nearest local council.
Rainford Mutabi
JOB ADVERT
2022-06-22
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is a statutory body under Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry.The CCPC was established under the Competition and Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) No. 24 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia.
Its Mission Statement is to safeguard and promote economic welfare by prohibiting anti-competitive and unfair business practices in Zambia.
In order to align its operations to good governance practices, the CCPC wishes to recruit for the following position:
INVESTIGATOR – MANSA OFFICE, LUAPULA PROVINCE (1)
Directorate: Consumer Protection
Reports To: Provincial Investigator
Job Grade: CCPC/E
Location: Mansa
RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Undertakes effective investigation and assessment of cases.
2. Undertakes effective development and implementation of IEC programmes.
3. Undertakes effective awareness campaigns.
QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS
1. Full Grade Twelve (12) Certificate.
2. A Degree in Economics, Business Administration, or other related business disciplines.
3. Team player, self-starter and sober character.
4. Excellent analytical, report writing skills and good computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Power Point etc.)
5. Team player, committed, motivated and pays attention to detail.
6. Valid Driver’s License is an added advantage.
CANDIDATES FROM LUAPULA PROVINCE ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY
Eligible candidates are encouraged to address their physical applications to:
The Director - Human Resource and Administration
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission
4th Floor, Main Post Office
Cairo Road
P O Box 34919
LUSAKA
The closing date is Friday 1st July, 2022.
Rainford Mutabi
Over K16,000 Worth of Expired Goods Seized in Mongu District
2022-06-10
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) in partnership with officers from Mongu Municipal Council (MMC) and Lewanika General Hospital (LGH) have seized expired goods worth K16,655 during inspections conducted on 8th and 9th June, 2022 in Mongu district of Western province. The inspections covered 30 trading premises of Mandanga and Kashumba markets of Mongu’s Central Business District (CBD).
The goods seized include assorted drinks, biscuits and cosmetic products among others. The goods were expired and therefore not fit for human consumption. Selling or offering for sale products not fit for purpose or expired is against the Competition and Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) No. 24 of 2010 as well as the Food and Safety Act No. 7 of 2019.
In light of this, CCPC and its partners wish to warn all suppliers, retailers and distributors to seize selling unsuitable products which have exceeded their shelf life. Traders are also advised to abide by the law and desist from engaging in unfair trading practices or any conduct that erode consumer welfare.
Meanwhile, CCPC and its partners will continue working together and enforcing their respective mandates in a quest to ensure consumer protection in Zambia and trader’s compliance with the law.
Rainford Mutabi
International Consumer Protection