Zanzibar issues stern warning to cold storage businesses

Unguja. The Zanzibar Food and Drugs Authority (ZFDA) has issued a warning to business owners operating cold storage facilities who engage in dishonest practices, stating that it will not tolerate such behaviour.

The ZFDA is conducting inspections to identify and take necessary action against these activities.

Dr Thamrat Khamis Talib, the head of the livestock product inspections segment, made this statement while inspecting storage facilities in the Mjini Magharibi Region on Sunday.

He emphasised: “Many traders overlook the regulations and operate outside the law.  Therefore, we are forced to carry out frequent inspections to stress the importance of compliance, as ZFDA is dissatisfied with the dishonesty shown by some traders.” During the inspections, the ZFDA discovered several companies violating regulations concerning the storage of meat, poultry, and fish products, and Dr Talib assured that appropriate action would be taken.

“ZFDA will not ignore any trader who disregards the regulations, and legal action will be initiated against anyone who defies these orders,” he added.

Dr Talib noted that past experiences indicate some traders neglect safety guidelines, which is why the ZFDA conducts regular inspections to prevent violations.

He urged traders to rectify the identified issues to ensure their products remain safe for consumers. He also highlighted that the purpose of the inspections is to ensure the safety of products during transportation to slaughterhouses and other consumers. 

Additionally, he encouraged product handlers to maintain personal hygiene and undergo regular health checks to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases.

“Handlers must undergo health checks every six months to identify infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and hepatitis,” he stated.

One of the officials from the inspected companies, Ms Yusra Humud Mohammed, encouraged her fellow traders to adhere to ZFDA’s instructions to avoid complications during inspections.

A similar message was voiced by Bahati Issa Mbaga from Chura Company, who pledged to address the identified shortcomings to comply with the authority’s requirements.