Govt to closely monitor food, cosmetics quality

THE government plans to expand and strengthen its network for close monitoring and control of quality and food and cosmetics products safety to protect consumers’ health.

The remarks were made by the Dodoma Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS), Dr Fatuma Mganga when opening a training for the health and trade officials from Dodoma district councils that was conducted by Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS).

“To implement this initiative, the government decided to use inspectors under the Regional Administration and Local Government (RALG) in controlling safety and quality of food and cosmetics to protect consumers’ health,” she said.

TBS organised the training for health and trade officers in three central regions of Dodoma, Singida and Tabora at different times to impart in them with laws, regulations and guidelines in implementing their daily obligations in collaboration with TBS and RALG.

Doing this, she added, will intensify and simplify operations and increase efficiency in controlling the safety and quality of food and cosmetics.

She urged participants to be acquainted with laws, regulations and guidelines and followed the formal procedures for their enactment from the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government and the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade.

“Public servants are obliged to understand and implement the laws, regulations and guidelines. I believe, the training will enhance efficiency in efforts to control safety and quality of food and cosmetics in the region and countrywide,” she said.

Central Zone TBS Manager, Niokonia Mwabuka said the training aims at building the capacity of the health and trade officers to increase efficiency in their day-to-day obligations.

“The objective of the training is to provide education to health and trade officers on laws, regulations and guidelines for the implementation of various obligations between TBS and RALG,” Mwabuka said.

TBS has been conducting inspections and controlling the safety and quality of food and cosmetics in collaboration with councils and thus the training will enhance efficiency in realising their obligations.

TBS recognises that public servants in all regional councils particularly, health and trade officers have huge contributions to protecting the quality and safety of food and cosmetics and ultimately protecting consumers’ health.