The Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN) has commended the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) for consistently fulfilling its mandate of protecting consumers from unsafe and substandard products.
Between 17th and 21st October 2025, the MBS, in collaboration with the Lilongwe City Council, conducted an operation in which expired and tampered fizzy and energy drink flavours were safely destroyed in Lilongwe. The exercise aimed to safeguard consumers from harmful and compromised products circulating on the market.
MHEN’s Executive Director, George Jobe, hailed the MBS for demonstrating strong regulatory oversight and a firm commitment to public health.
“This sends a clear message that public health and consumer safety must always come first,” said Jobe.
He further urged manufacturers to strengthen their internal quality control systems and ensure that all raw materials meet approved safety standards.
MHEN also encouraged local authorities to maintain strong partnerships with the MBS in monitoring production facilities and called on the public to report any suspicious products or cases of expiry-date alteration.
Recently, the Malawi Bureau of Standards expressed concern over a surge in fraudulent practices within the fertiliser industry, warning that such activities pose serious threats to farmers’ productivity, public safety, and the national economy.
According to the MBS, investigations have uncovered increasing cases of adulteration, fake labelling, underweight packaging, illegal production, and poor labelling of fertilisers on the local market. The Bureau revealed that some unscrupulous traders are mixing fertilisers with sand or soil, repackaging uncertified products, and selling them as genuine. Others are reportedly violating the Metrology Act by selling underweight bags.
The MBS has since urged farmers to always check for the MBS Certification Mark when purchasing fertilisers and to report any suspicious activities. The Bureau has also warned that non-compliance will attract strict penalties, including confiscation of uncertified goods, suspension of operations, or legal action.
