THE Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) is set to introduce a comprehensive regulatory framework for cosmetic products sold within the country.
In a Press statement issued yesterday, MCAZ director-general Richard Rukwata said the move was aimed at safeguarding consumer health and enhancing product quality.
“The regulations, known as Medicines and Allied Substances Control (Cosmetics) Regulations, seek to address growing concerns over the proliferation of sub-standard, falsified and potentially harmful cosmetic products in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“MCAZ has identified several issues requiring stricter oversight, including the use of harmful ingredients, poor product quality and lack of traceability.
“Under the proposed regulatory framework, MCAZ will establish guidelines for defining, registering, labelling and testing cosmetic products.”
He said manufacturers, importers and distributors would be required to comply with stringent safety and quality standards, submit detailed product information for evaluation and adhere to proper labelling and marketing practices.
Rukwata said the authority had lined up several stakeholder engagement meetings to solicit input to finalise the draft regulations.
“This collaborative approach aims to ensure the final framework addresses the needs and concerns of both the industry and consumers effectively,” the MCAZ boss said.
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“The primary goal is to protect public health and well-being of Zimbabwean consumers in line with the mandate of the authority and international best practices.
“By regulating the cosmetics sector, the aim is to restore confidence in the market, promote product innovation and empower people to make informed choices about the products they use on their skins and bodies.”
He said the proposed cosmetics regulations were expected to be implemented soon, subject to the necessary legislative and administrative processes.
“MCAZ encourages all stakeholders, including manufacturers, importers, retailers and consumers to stay informed and engage the authority during this critical process and members of the public are urged to take precautionary measures in using some of these cosmetics.”
