COSATU condemns products not SABS approved

By Celeste Ganga
27 August 2007

COSATU is urging workers to refuse to buy products, which are not fully compliant with the rules laid down by the South African Bureau of Standards.

“This is not aimed exclusively at Chinese imports, but all potentially dangerous or unhealthy products regardless of their origin," says COSATU Spokesperson, Patrick Craven.

He explains that consumers have a right to demand the highest standards of protection, and the proposed action should encourage manufacturers and retailers to maintain and improve the safety of products on sale in South Africa.

“It happens that China appears to be the main source of these dangerous and unhealthy products, “says Craven.

These products include forms of toothpaste, fertilisers and toys that contain excessive levels of lead.

“ We want to make sure that the importation of these goods are stopped. We’ve also been concerned about the volumes of imports from China, “ says Craven.