In 2003, the Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) has established a permanent office at one of the major border points (Chirundu). About 70 percent of Zambia’s imports come through this border point. The ECZ officers there work hand in hand with the Customs officials, phytosanitary inspectors, health inspectors, pharmaceutical inspectors; and, through the technical environmental expertise of the ECZ officers, the Zambian Customs officials are able to identify and interdict the import or export of banned or severely restricted chemicals or waste [The ECZ officials at the border do not have the mandate for CITES, but they can work with relevant officers in case they come across such a case.]
In this manner, illegal import of such chemicals and waste are not allowed into the State, so the Government has been able to prevent many of the problems that would have arisen. Moreover, this approach has resulted in many companies complying with Zambian national chemical legislation.
For more information, contact dkapindula@necz.org.zm