Standardisation of Soap Act

The Laws of Zambia
Copyright Ministry of Legal Affairs, Government of the Republic of Zambia
REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA
THE STANDARDISATION OF SOAP ACT
CHAPTER 404 OF THE LAWS OF ZAMBIA
CHAPTER 404 THE STANDARDISATION OF SOAP ACT
THE STANDARDISATION OF SOAP ACT
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section
1. Short title
2. Interpretation
3. Ingredients of soaps
4. Restriction on manufacture of soap
5. Inspection of premises
6. Penalties
CHAPTER 404
STANDARDISATION OF SOAP 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.
[29th November, 1957]

f 1959
Act No.
13 of 1994
An Act to regulate and control the manufacture of soap; and to provide for matters
incidental thereto.
[29th November, 1957]

The Laws of Zambia
Copyright Ministry of Legal Affairs, Government of the Republic of Zambia
1. This Act may be cited as the Standardisation of Soap Act. Short title
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires- Interpretation
"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. (1) Soap in the form of bars, tablets, flakes or chips for household, laundry or
toilet purposes-
Ingredients of soaps
(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.

uarter 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-

ne per centum of free caustic
alkali (calculated for this purpose as sodium hydroxide); and
(c) shall be free from harmful ingredients. (3) Soft soap-

The Laws of Zambia
Copyright Ministry of Legal Affairs, Government of the Republic of Zambia
(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. (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. Restriction on
manufacture of soap
(2) Any person who manufactures any soap in contravention of the provisions of
subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence. 5. (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.

uthorised thereto by the Minister may at
any time enter upon premises where soap is manufactured and take samples of soap for
examination or analysis.

Inspection of premises
(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. (1) Any person guilty of an offence under the provisions of this Act shall be liable- Penalties
(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.

ond 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)