Non-Tariff Barriers

Non-Tariff Measure

NTM classification

B31: Labelling requirements 

Date when the measure came into force

01 January 1972 

Publication where the measure is specified

The Law of Zambia; Republic of Zambia 

Regulation where the measure is specified

Food and Drugs Act 

Country/Region applying the measure

Zambia 

The rationale of the measure

to protect the public against health hazards and fraud in the sale and use of food 

Coded list of objectives

A: Protection of human life and health 

Description of the measure

31. (1) The label applied to a food shall carry-Declaration to be included in label
(a)on the main panel-
(i)the brand or trade name, if any of the food;
(ii) the common name of the food; and
(iii) in close proximity to the common name, a correct declaration of the net contents in terms of weight, volume or number in accordance with the usual practice in describing the food;
(b)grouped together on any panel-
(i) a declaration by name of any Class II, Class III or Class IV Preservative in the food;
(ii) a declaration of any food colour added to the food;
(iii) a declaration of any artificial or imitation flavouring preparation added to a food other than a food listed in regulation 41;
(iv) in the case of a food consisting of more than one ingredient, unless specifically exempted by the Minister, a complete list of the ingredients by their acceptable common names in descending order of their proportions, unless the quantity of each ingredient is stated in terms of per centum or proportionate composition; and
(v)any other statement required by these Regulations to be declared, such as meaningful coding and date-marking referred to in regulation 421 (4) (i) (i) and (ii);
(c) on any panel, the name and address of the manufacturer, packer,
distributor, importer, exporter or vendor of the food.
(2) For the purposes of sub-regulation (1) (a) (ii) and (iii), the size of the letters used for the common name and in declaring the net contents shall be at least half of the size of the letters used for the brand or trade name.
(3) For the purpose of sub-regulation (1) (b) (iv), in the case of food consisting of more than one ingredient, the size of the letters used in the complete list shall be at least one quarter of the size of the letters used for the brand or trade name
32.Notwithstanding anything contained in regulation 31, the information required by that regulation shall not be placed at the bottom of the container of any food or on a panel at the bottom thereof
39.For the purpose of regulation 31 (b) (iv), a name set out in column 1 of Part II of the Second Schedule is an acceptable common name for the food set out in column 2 thereof relating to the same item
43.Food in a package shall not be described or presented on any label by words,pictures or other marks which, either directly or indirectly, refer to, or are suggestive of, any other product with which such food might be confused, or in such manner as to lead the purchaser or consumer to suppose that the food is connected with such other product.
44.(1) The country of origin of a food shall be declared.
(2) When a food undergoes processing in a second country and changes its nature,the country in which the processing is performed shall, for the purposes of labelling, be considered to be the country or origin
46.Grade designations used on the label shall be readily understandable and in no way misleading or deceptive. 

Reference of the measure

Part II para 31,32,39. 43, 44 & 46 

Measure also domestic

Yes 

Products affected by the measure.

Description

prepackaged food 

Countries/Regions affected by the measure.

Description

All countries