By KASONDE KASONDE

.ZAMRA

THE Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) has said that it has intensified inspections for fake chlorine said to be in circulation as a result of the  cholera epidemic in Lusaka.
ZAMRA director medicines control Zuma Munkombwe said inspectors were in the field visiting manufacturers and importers as well as the general market to collect samples for testing.
Dr Munkombwe said samples had been taken to the laboratories and were under analysis to check for packaging, content and general characteristics to ensure the products were not substandard.
“The Medicines and Allied Substances Act states that a person shall not manufacture, import, export, distribute, sell, store or deal in any manner with substandard, counterfeit, adulterated or misbrand medicines or allied substances,” Dr Munkombwe said.
He said disinfectants such as chlorine and hand sanitisers fell under allied substances, which were not medicines in themselves but were used in the provision of healthcare.
Dr Mukombwe said the Act also stated that if a person contravened its provisions, he was liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding two million penalty units (unit being K30) which translated into K600,000.
He said anyone found wanting could also be imprisoned for a period not
exceeding four years or both.
Dr Munkombwe said once the results from the laboratories on the chlorine samples were out, the Authority would swing into action and the product names published to protect the public from the products that could be harmful.
Dr Munkombwe also said chlorine was a very unstable chemical and should not be exposed to light, hence the bottles should be of thick material as weak materials shrunk and that the chemical reaction was not safe.