The Zimbabwe government has announced a ban on 40 water bottling firms for failing to meet safety and quality standards. Some companies do not meet the required minimum basic hygienic requirements and some are not bottling their water at the source of the water, as required, the government said.
Acting Secretary for health and child welfare Davis Dhlakama said the firms’ water was not suitable for bottling for various reasons including unsuitable packaging, wrong labelling and contamination.
Most of the suppliers indicate the mineral elements content on the label, but failed to indicate the information pertaining to microbiological safety of the water.
After independent surveillance, the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) has named 12 water bottling firms certified with the national body.
The companies include Schweppes Zimbabwe, Tanganda Tea Company, Century Ice, ZLG, Brackenridge T/A Kanyerere Investment, Reichmark, Aqua Crystal, Chromopak Investments, Somerby, Chilruff T/A Springvale, Mukati Investments and Blester Marketing.
According to the government, some companies are also violating the factory by-laws requirements of municipal authorities.