Tanzania’s Fair Competition Commission has urged manufacturers and distributors of construction materials to ensure products meet required standards, warning that substandard goods pose serious risks to consumers and the economy.
The call was made during a construction sector stakeholder seminar organised by the Fair Competition Commission (FCC) to mark activities linked to World Consumer Rights Day.
Opening the seminar on behalf of the Director General, FCC official Magdalena Utouh, said the 2026 campaign is guided by the theme “Safe products, confident consumers,” aimed at strengthening consumer trust by ensuring goods and services available in the market meet required safety standards.
Recent amendments to Tanzania’s competition law have strengthened the regulator’s mandate to protect consumers.
Amendments to the Fair Competition Act, introduced in 2024, granted the FCC expanded powers to directly oversee consumer protection matters that were previously shared with the courts.
Under the updated framework, the commission is responsible for ensuring consumers receive safe products, accurate information, and protection from unfair trade practices.
The regulator highlighted the construction sector as particularly critical, noting that building materials such as steel bars, cement, roofing sheets, and paints must meet both national and international standards to safeguard public safety.
Based on the Acting Director General's speech, she warned that poor-quality materials can lead to serious consequences, including electrical fires from faulty wiring or structural failures caused by substandard steel products.
“The safety of construction materials is not just a business issue; it is a matter of public safety and national development,” Magdalena told participants.
The commission is closely monitoring three key areas in the construction materials market: the authenticity of products to curb counterfeits, pricing trends, and the availability of materials.
The seminar brought together manufacturers, distributors, and traders from across the construction sector to discuss compliance with competition laws and strategies to improve product safety.
FCC officials urged manufacturers to ensure their products meet legal and safety standards, while distributors and retailers were advised to sell only genuine products sourced from recognised producers.
The regulator said improving product safety would strengthen consumer confidence and promote fair competition in Tanzania’s markets.
