Trade and Industry Minister Christopher Yaluma has called on the manufacturing industry to ensure products being produced locally meet standards and regulations whilst satisfying customer quality expectations.
The minister says in order to complement the President’s directive of ensuring chain stores across the country prioritise and promote local agriculture products within their localities, the need to apply accurate measurements is essential in making sure there is uniformity of measurements in industry production, packaging and selling of products.
He said the use of accurate measurements promotes research and innovation in infrastructural technological advancements, enhancement of fair completion and trade, improved consumer protection in areas of trade, health, law enforcement and environmental protection
“You’re aware that most products are sold by weight, volume or length. Therefore, for a seller and a buyer to agree on quality during a commercial transaction, measurements play a pivotal role,” He added
Speaking when he launched the 2020 World Metrology Day Commemorated under the theme “Measurements in Global Trade” which falls on May 20,2020, Yaluma has also encouraged the formation of cooperatives by local citizens to ensure that quality and safety requirements of local products are met.
He added the ministry with other stakeholders have continued to provide the necessary technical support to micro, small and medium enterprises – MSME’s to focus on the significance of adhering to packaging and labeling requirements in line with the best international standards.
In a statement made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Yaluma further said compliance to correct packaging and labelling requirements shall in turn speak directly to the Presidents call for the promotion of local agricultural products in the Zambian chain stores.
Meanwhile, the COVID – 19 pandemic has disrupted the global economy and world trade to levels not experienced in a long while, this is due to reduction in the production and provision of goods and services as a result of various actions that have been instituted following advice from medical experts among the measures are border restrictions by various countries which have led to decreased trading across the globe.
