MCAZ moves to regulate cosmetic products in Zimbabwe

BY NEW ZIANA 

HARARE – In a bid to safeguard consumer health and enhance quality, the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) plans to introduce a comprehensive regulatory framework for cosmetic products sold within the country.

The MCAZ is a statutory body responsible for protecting public and animal health by ensuring that accessible medicines and allied substances and medical devices are safe, effective and of good quality through enforcement and adherence to standards by manufacturers and distributors.

It was established by an Act of Parliament, the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act (MASCA) [Chapter 15.03] being a successor of the Drugs Control Council (DCC) and the Zimbabwe Regional Drug Control Laboratory (ZRDCL).

“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,” MCAZ director-general, Richard Rukwata said in a statement on Monday.

“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, labeling, and testing cosmetic products.”

Manufacturers, importers, and distributors will be required to comply with stringent safety and quality standards, submit detailed product information for evaluation, and adhere to proper labeling and marketing practices, he said.

The statutory body has lined up several stakeholder engagement meetings to solicit input from various stakeholders to finalize the draft regulations, a collaborative approach to ensure the final framework addresses the needs and concerns of both the industry and consumers effectively.

“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,” said Rukwata.

“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 skin and bodies.”

The proposed cosmetics regulations are expected to be implemented soon, subject to the necessary legislative and administrative processes. 

The statutory body encouraged all stakeholders, including manufacturers, importers, retailers, and consumers, to stay informed and engage with it during the critical process and urged members of the public to take precautionary measures in using some of the cosmetics.

Recently, the Health Professions Authority (HPA) closed 10 saloons for offering injectable beauty enhancements.