Consumer watchdog wants tough stance against substandard products

The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) has urged the government to strengthen enforcement of the Consignment-Based Conformity Assessment (CBCA) programme to shield consumers from substandard, counterfeit, and mispriced goods flooding the market.

The call comes as authorities continue refining the CBCA framework following the gazetting of Statutory Instrument 35 of 2024, which expanded the programme's legal and operational scope.

Introduced in 2015, the CBCA is a pre-shipment verification system requiring selected imported goods to be inspected and certified in their country of origin before entering Zimbabwe. The initiative aims to block unsafe, fake, or undervalued products from reaching consumers.

At a recent stakeholders consultation workshop hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, CCZ Policy, Research and Advocacy Director Patience Chikwiriro stressed the need to boost public awareness and modernise verification methods.

"We need to scale up public awareness, introduce QR codes and USSD platforms for real-time product verification, and address weak enforcement in informal markets where non-compliant goods continue to thrive," Chikwiriro said.

She acknowledged that the CBCA programme remains largely invisible to most consumers and is yet to deliver its full benefits due to gaps in implementation.

"Compliance costs are being pushed onto the consumer, labelling is inadequate, and there is little visibility on how certified products are monitored after entering the market," she added.

To bridge these gaps, CCZ announced the upcoming launch of a ‘CCZ Verified' digital platform within 90 days. This platform will enable consumers to scan products, confirm certification, lodge complaints, and access safety information instantly. The tool is expected to complement CBCA mechanisms and improve traceability and accountability in the retail sector.

Chikwiriro highlighted that the CBCA programme is a critical enforcement instrument under the Consumer Protection Act, reinforcing provisions on product safety, fair pricing, and redress.

"Importers must conduct due diligence before bringing goods into Zimbabwe. The CBCA Programme enforces that obligation and strengthens consumers' rights to safety and value," she said.

The workshop also stressed the importance of clear product labelling, including instructions in local languages, and called for a national post-market feedback portal to track and resolve complaints efficiently.

The CCZ raised concerns over the transfer of CBCA inspection costs to consumers through higher retail prices, while informal traders often evade certification requirements and sell uncertified products at lower prices, undermining consumer safety and fair market competition.

"Enforcement appears focused on formal importers, while informal traders are largely unregulated. This undermines the programme's credibility and puts compliant businesses at a disadvantage," Chikwiriro noted.

The CCZ committed to collaborating with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to strengthen the CBCA programme through consumer education, digital innovation, and enhanced monitoring.

Under its new mandate from Section 33 of the Consumer Protection Act, CCZ will also handle dispute resolution and arbitration related to consumer complaints, positioning itself as a key partner in tackling issues linked to imported products.

"We are open to collaborating on post-market surveillance, digital traceability, and feedback loops. Consumers deserve visibility into what they are buying and recourse when things go wrong," Chikwiriro emphasized.

Finally, the council urged the ministry and CBCA authorities to engage its technical teams, including the Consumer Council Digital Feedback Interface, to monitor labelling compliance and coordinate product recall alerts.

As Zimbabwe moves to tighten import controls and protect consumers, the CCZ's interventions could prove pivotal in ensuring safer, fairer markets for all.