Retailers illegally selling hazardous substances

SUKOLUHLE NDLOVU IN GWERU

Several retail shops in Gweru and Kwekwe are handling and selling hazardous substances without licences, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has revealed.

Government gazetted Statutory Instrument 268 of 2018 (Environmental Management (Control of hazardous substances (General Regulation) four years ago that provides guidelines on the sound management of the chemicals.

Those handling or selling the chemicals should be licenced.

Speaking to Business Times, EMA Midlands Provincial spokesperson, Oswald Ndlovu, said these retail shops are breaking the law.

“We have been conducting routine hazardous inspections in Gweru and Kwekwe districts and we noted that most agro-dealers, hardware shops and veterinary shops are storing and selling these substances without the relevant documents to do so,” he said.

Ndlovu said it is a breach of the law hence all those who handle hazardous substances should acquire licences.

“As EMA, we would like to encourage all those who handle these substances to acquire the licences as per the provisions of Statutory Instrument 268 of 2018. Failure to do that, the agency will issue tickets and penalise those who are not following orders,” he said.

He appealed to all retailers that handle dangerous chemicals to acquire licenses and also to follow set measures for conserving the environment.