Two businessmen plead guilty of selling expired products in Katete district

Two Katete business men have pleaded guilty to offering for selling products without manufacturing and expiry dates contrary to section 6 of the Food and Drugs Act.

This is contrary to the Act’s regulations number 489 (4) (m) of the statutory instrument number 90 of 2001 of the food and drugs Act chapter 303 of the laws of Zambia.

It is alleged that Siraz Esmal aged 48, while trading as Kesons Enterprises on June 27, this year did offer for sale products namely 7150 millilitres cases of glycerine and 95 by 100 millilitres of glycerine without as expiry or manufacturing dates on them as requires by the law.

In another count Esmail is charged with an offence of offering for sale expired products contrary to section 3 (b) and 6 of the Food and Drugs Act chapter 31 (2) of the Food and Drugs Act cap 303 of the laws of Zambia.

It is believed that the businessman while trading as Kesons Enterprises on June 27 this year did sale or store products namely 2×100 grams of lifebuoy soap tablets which had expired in contravention with the laws of Zambia.

However in the third Count he pleaded not guilty to obstructing or impeding or preventing or attempting to prevent the execution by an authorized officer of his duties contrary to section 24 (4) of the food and drugs Act cap 303 of the laws of Zambia as read with section 31 (2).

Particulars of the offence are that on June 27 this year, Kessons enterprise did obstruct or impede or prevent or attempt to prevent Tresford Mwansa an authorized officer from executing his duties in contravention with the law.

And Beza Phiri of Blue Moon Investment pleaded guilty to offering for sale products with no manufacturing and expiry dates contrary to section 6 of the Food and Drugs Act as read with regulations number 489 (4) (m) of the statutory instrument number 90 of 2001 of the food and drugs Act chapter 303 of the laws of Zambia.

It is alleged that Mr. Phiri while trading under Blue Moon Investment in Katete on July 23, 2014 did offer for sale namely 2× 100 millilitres of Clere body lotion without expiry or manufacturing date on them contrary to the laws of Zambia.

Further it is believed that on the same date Mr. Phiri did offer for sale expired products contrary to section 3 (b) and 6 of the Food and Drugs Act chapter 31 (2) of the Food and Drugs Act cap 303 of the laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence are that Phiri while trading as Blue Moon Investments did sell or store products namely fourty five by two liters of Yummy drinks, five by five hundred grams of Blue Band Butter and one by two hundred and fifty grams of baked beans.

Other goods included one by three hundred and seventy five grams of steers salad dresser, six by four hundred and fifty milligrams of down lotion, two by three hundred fifty grams of tomato paste, one by one liters of fruit cocktail drink and one by five hundred millilitres of true lemon juice which had expired in contravention with the laws of Zambia.

Meanwhile Esau Mwale of Mphewa Pharmacy has pleaded not guilty to offering for sale products with no manufacturing and expiry dates contrary to section 6 of the Food and Drugs Act as read with regulations number 489 (4) (m) of the statutory instrument number 90 of 2001 of the food and drugs Act chapter 303 of the laws of Zambia.

It is alleged that on July 23, 2014 Mwale while trading as Mphewa Pharmacy did offer for sale products namely 10×250 grams f supper family powder without expiry or manufacturing date on them as required by the law.

Magistrate Mary Musongole has August 12 as date for the reading of facts in respect of Phiri and Esmail respectively while trial is for Mphewa Pharmacy is set to begin on August 18.

However the duo despite accepting the charge told court that had ordered the respective goods in the manner they were found in by inspectors from the manufacturers alleging that they were not aware of the errors.