Standardisation of Soap Act, 1957

Chapter 404

Citation: Chapter 404
Date: 31 December 1996
Language: English
Type: Act

Zambia

Standardisation of Soap Act, 1957

Chapter 404

Commenced on 29 November 1957
[This is the version of this document at 31 December 1996.]

[24 of 1957; 19 of 1959; Act No. 13 of 1994]An Act to regulate and control the manufacture of soap; and to provide for matters incidental thereto.

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Standardisation of Soap Act.

2. Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—"soap" means the product which results from the process of the saponification of fats and oils—(a)with sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide; or(b)by the neutralisation of fatty acids with sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide or their carbonates or bi-carbonates; or(c)by the neutralisation of fatty acids with ammonia or triethanolamine.

3. Ingredients of soaps

(1)Soap in the form of bars, tablets, flakes or chips for household, laundry or toilet purposes—

(a)shall contain not less than forty-five per centum of fatty acids, of which not more than one-third may be replaced by resin acids; and

(b)shall not contain more than one-quarter of one per centum of free caustic alkali (calculated for this purpose as sodium hydroxide); and

(c)shall be free from any harmful ingredients.

(2)Liquid soap—

(a)shall contain not less than fifteen per centum of fatty acids, of which not more than one-quarter may be replaced by resin acids; and

(b)shall contain not more than one-twentieth of one per centum of free caustic alkali (calculated for this purpose as sodium hydroxide); and

(c)shall be free from harmful ingredients.

(3)Soft soap—

(a)shall contain not less than thirty-five per centum of fatty acids, of which not more than one-third may be replaced by resin acids; and

(b)shall contain not more than three-quarters of one per centum of free caustic alkali (calculated for this purpose as sodium hydroxide).

4. Restriction on manufacture of soap

(1)Except with the written consent of the Minister, no person shall manufacture for sale any soap of which the composition, at the time when the soap is packed, does not comply with the relevant provisions of section three.

(2)Any person who manufactures any soap in contravention of the provisions of subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence.

5. Inspection of premises

(1)Any person generally or specially authorised thereto by the Minister may at any time enter upon premises where soap is manufactured and take samples of soap for examination or analysis.

(2)Any person who owns, occupies or is in control of any premises where soap is manufactured, and every person employed upon such premises, shall, when required, permit any person authorised under the provisions of subsection (1) to enter such premises in the course of his duties and to exercise the powers conferred by subsection (1).

(3)Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (2) or who hinders or obstructs any person in the exercise of the powers conferred by subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence.

6. Penalties

(1)Any person guilty of an offence under the provisions of this Act shall be liable—

(a)for a first offence, to a fine not exceeding three thousand penalty units; and

(b)for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding six thousand penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding twelve months, or to both.

(2)Where any person is convicted of an offence under the provisions of section four, the court by which he is so convicted may order that any soap which is the subject-matter of such offence shall be forfeited to and become the property of the Government and any soap so forfeited may thereafter be disposed of as the Minister may direct.[As amended by Act No. 13 of 1994]

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History of this document

31 December 1996 this version

Consolidation

29 November 1957

Commenced