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TBS stresses ban on imported second-hand under garments
2008-01-29 09:36:12
By Felister Peter
The Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) has stressed its ban on the import of second-hand underwear, vowing to take strong measures against anyone who would not adhere to the ban.
TBS director Charles Ekelege told `The Guardian` in an exclusive interview in Dar es Salaam over the weekend that so far they had managed to seize about 37 consignments of second-hand underwear which they destructed.
He said they were working closely with the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) and the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), in collaboration with clearing and forwarding agents to help them impound imported second-hand underpants.
The TBS chief said that after destruction of the consignments the owners were warned not to import any more such clothes.
Ekelege said that Tanzanians should not change and stop buying used underwear because they were exposing themselves to health risks.
He said there were varieties of ready-made clothes which were imported into the country and sold at competitive prices.
``This is why we allow people to import clothes. We do not want people to get health problems because of wearing second-hand imports,`` he said.
He also called on Tanzanians to stop buying them so that importers are discouraged.
Since the government announced a ban on used underwear in 2003, there have been a lot of them being sold in different markets in Dar es Salaam.
A survey conducted by this paper last week showed that used underpants were being sold at `mitumba` markets at Kariakoo, Manzese, Tandale, Magomeni and Tandika. They were being sold at between 200/- and 1,000/-.
One of the sellers at Tandale market, Athuman Mwanungu, said they bought them from importers who use \'panya\' routes to bring them into the country.
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