Food importers, traders and transporters in Zanzibar face tighter safety requirements after the government banned the transportation of food products in the same vessels as hazardous materials, including cement, automotive lubricants and chemicals.
The directive, announced by Health Minister Nassor Ahmed Mazrui, seeks to prevent contamination that could compromise food quality and expose consumers to health risks before products reach shops and households.
The move puts the spotlight on food safety beyond production and sale, particularly the risks posed by how imported food is handled, stored and transported.
Speaking at the Zanzibar Food and Drug Agency (ZFDA) offices in Mombasa, Unguja, Mr Mazrui urged importers, traders, transporters and distributors to comply with safety requirements throughout the food supply chain.
He warned that transporting food alongside hazardous materials could expose products to chemical leakages, fine dust, toxic residues and strong odours, potentially making them unsafe for consumption.
Food products such as rice, wheat flour, sugar, dates and cooking oil must be transported and stored under conditions that protect them from contamination, he said.
Mr Mazrui also directed businesses to ensure that vehicles and other equipment used to transport food are clean, dry and free from chemical residues or other substances that could compromise product safety.
“Food safety is the responsibility of every stakeholder in the food chain, from production and importation to transportation and distribution, until the products reach the final consumer,” he said.
The directive raises the compliance burden for businesses handling food imports, requiring them to separate food cargo from hazardous materials rather than risk contamination during transit.
For consumers, effective enforcement could help reduce exposure to contaminated food and strengthen confidence in products sold in markets and shops. However, the impact will depend on how consistently the requirements are monitored and enforced across the supply chain.
Mr Mazrui said the government would continue enforcing laws, regulations and guidelines governing food safety to protect public health and prevent harm associated with consuming unsafe food.
He called on other regulatory institutions to cooperate with ZFDA to ensure the directive is implemented effectively.
Traders who attended the meeting pledged to support the measures and educate their colleagues about the importance of complying with food safety requirements.
They said they would act as ambassadors for the directive, encouraging fellow businesses to take responsibility for protecting consumers.
The announcement reinforces the role of safe transportation and storage in protecting food quality, particularly in a supply chain where products may pass through several handlers before reaching consumers.
For the government, the next challenge will be ensuring that the ban translates into consistent practices among importers, shipping operators and distributors, rather than remaining a regulatory instruction with limited impact on daily business operations.