CONSUMERS NEED TO BE PROTECTED

IN today’s interconnected world, where global trade has expanded beyond borders, the tale of Tibor Liska’s chocolate imbued with sildenafil, popularly known as Viagra, serves as a sombre reminder of the potential perils that arise when unscrupulous actors exploit regulatory loopholes and prey upon consumer vulnerability.

As we delve into the revelation of a similar product being sold in a Lebanese supermarket in Zambia, it becomes evident that robust consumer protection measures, transparent labelling practices, and vigilant oversight are imperative in the face of an ever-evolving global marketplace.

We are yet to see a Zambian product especially food, making it on the international market and labelled in any of our seven biggest local languages and not English.

The conviction of Tibor Liska in the United States in 2008 for selling chocolates laced with Viagra sheds light on a disturbing trend: the misrepresentation of products that could endanger public health. Liska pleaded guilty to selling sildenafil-laced chocolate under the guise of a seemingly innocuous food supplement, revealing the glaring inadequacies of existing regulations in ensuring the safety and transparency of products available to consumers.

Sold under the name “Boom,” these deceptive “food supplements” found their way to consumers in various corners of the globe, from the United States to Australia, Colombia to Switzerland, Russia to Argentina, Japan to Slovakia. What is particularly concerning is that these supplements were marketed as plant-based, completely omitting any mention of the presence of sildenafil – a serious oversight that has ignited discussions about the efficacy of regulatory processes in these nations.

Similarly, the unfolding situation in Zambia exposes the broader challenge of language barriers impeding effective consumer awareness. The Zambian law rightly dictates that products made available in the market must be labelled in a language comprehensible to its citizens. This mandate is not just a legal formality; it is a fundamental right designed to empower consumers with the knowledge they need to make informed choices. The chocolate reportedly sold to young individuals below the age of 16, while labelled exclusively in Turkish, a language foreign to Zambians, raises serious red flags. The absence of proper labelling leaves unsuspecting consumers, particularly vulnerable youngsters, in a state of ignorance about the true nature of the product they are consuming.

Both cases illuminate the pressing need for comprehensive regulations that hold manufacturers and retailers accountable for transparently communicating the contents and potential risks of their products.

It is imperative that governments unite to share best practices for consumer protection across national boundaries. In a world where products can traverse continents within days, regulatory alignment is essential to ensure the paramount importance of consumer safety.

The narratives also underscore the ethical responsibility that retailers bear. Displaying products with potential health implications – such as chocolates containing sildenafil – on open counters without age restrictions is a deeply disconcerting practice. Retailers must exercise discretion and adhere to established guidelines when making products available to the public, especially products that may have unintended consequences on a particularly vulnerable segment of the population.

To address these complex challenges, policymakers, regulatory agencies, and stakeholders must collaborate to establish a comprehensive framework that guarantees transparency, promotes consumer awareness, and enforces regulations with diligence.

One plausible solution involves the creation of an international database where regulatory information about products can be shared among nations. This would empower governments to make informed decisions about the products that are permitted within their markets. Additionally, forging alliances between regulatory bodies across countries could foster a more coordinated approach to identifying and addressing deceptive practices.

Education plays an indomitable role in empowering consumers to make well-informed choices. Governments and organizations must invest in awareness campaigns that educate the public about the potential risks associated with unregulated supplements and misleading products.

By promoting media literacy and providing resources for consumers to decipher product labels, individuals can develop a heightened discernment when it comes to the products they purchase.

The Turkish-manufactured sildenafil-infused chocolate in Zambia casts a spotlight on the vulnerabilities inherent in our global trade and regulatory systems. These instances underscore the urgency for governments, regulators, and industry stakeholders to collectively fortify consumer protection mechanisms and foster transparent business practices.

We can safely say we have regulatory agencies in Zambia like the Consumer Competition and Protection Commission (CCPC), Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) and the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) that are not doing enough to protect the Zambian consumer as many have been exposed to the lowest and most dangerous standards when it comes to service.

By harmonizing regulations across international borders, advocating for responsible retail practices, and championing comprehensive consumer education, we can take vital strides toward shielding individuals from deceptive products that jeopardize their health and well-being. Moving forward, it is incumbent upon us to forge a more secure and enlightened marketplace that benefits all.