Published: 05 December 2013

Health Advisor to the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr. Timothy Stamps has expressed concern over the increase in illegally imported alcohol beverages and the flouting of regulations by importers and brewers.

In an interview with The Herald at the launch of the Medical and Health Expo in Harare recently, Dr Stamps said illegal alcohol products were flooding the market. "There are very simple regulations that were put in place for manufactures and distributors like placing a health warning and alcohol content of the products in a visible area on the label but this is ignored and nothing has been done about it.

Our greatest worry is that some of these products are imported. We then wonder how they are cleared and end up in our stores. Some of the products are illegally imported but the problem is that you will still find them in our shops," he said. Statutory Instrument 25 of 2001 makes it mandatory for alcohol labels to carry health warning notices.

"Every alcohol label shall contain health warning notices and health advisory statements in the form set out in the schedule or otherwise approved by the Secretary for Health and Child Welfare," reads the regulations. The warning must carry words like "alcohol may be hazardous to health if consumed to excess, the operation of machinery or driving after the consumption of alcohol is not advisable".

The law dictates that the warning be placed on a prominent position on the main label. The label must also have an additional information revealing the total amount of alcohol and the percentage alcohol content, weight or volume, among other things. Dr Stamps said it was worrying to see people dying because of failure by regulators to implement requirements stated by the law.

"We want people to enjoy their lives but at the same time allow them to grow old. I lost a worker due to excess intake of alcohol. He was a good worker and a breadwinner but all is now lost," he said.

Consumer Council of Zimbabwe executive director Ms Rosemary Siyachitema said the Ministry of Health and Child Care must look into the matter.

"Our job as CCZ is not to regulate. That is done by the police and the relevant ministry or authority," she said.
- bh24

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