FCC joins global campaign to safeguard consumers

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND: Tanzania’s Fair Competition Commission (FCC) has embarked on a nationwide consumer product safety campaign as part of the global initiative dubbed “Safe Products for All.”

The drive seeks to protect consumers from unsafe goods and services while strengthening market surveillance and raising awareness about the importance of safety and quality standards in everyday products.

The development was revealed by the Commission’s Acting Director General, Ms Khadija Ngasongwa, during the sixteenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD Global Services Forum) held in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday.

Ms Khadija emphasized that ensuring product safety is not only essential for protecting consumers but also for building public trust, supporting local industries, and safeguarding public health.

She added that the FCC’s campaign is aligned with Tanzania’s broader vision to promote a transparent, competitive, and inclusive marketplace.

“The campaign reinforces our commitment to ensuring that goods and services available in the Tanzanian market meet international safety and quality standards,” she said, underscoring that effective consumer protection contributes to a stronger economy and sustainable growth.

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The UNCTAD forum also discussed the role of the digital economy and artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing inclusive and sustainable development. Ms Khadija noted that Tanzania is committed to leveraging technology to enhance service delivery, expand market access, and drive innovation—while maintaining data privacy, security, and equitable participation for all stakeholders.

She further highlighted Tanzania’s ongoing efforts to promote fair competition, strengthen trade in services, and align domestic policies with global best practices. The FCC’s participation, she said, demonstrates Tanzania’s active engagement in shaping international trade standards and contributing to global economic transformation.

The Tanzanian delegation to the UNCTAD Global Services Forum was led by Ambassador Dr Abdallah Saleh Possi, the Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the United Nations Offices in Geneva.

Discussions at the forum focused on strategies for leveraging the services sector to foster structural transformation, economic diversification, and inclusive growth in developing economies.

For Tanzania, trade in services is an increasingly vital component of the national economy—providing employment opportunities, boosting GDP, and supporting key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and ICT through improved finance, logistics, and connectivity.

Strengthening this sector remains central to achieving Tanzania’s Vision 2050 and implementing the National Trade Policy (2023). It also enhances the country’s competitiveness and regional integration efforts under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.