THE Government Chemist Laboratory Authority (GCLA) has reminded major chemical suppliers in the country to stop selling chemicals to unregistered middle- and small-scale dealers.

Daniel Ndiyo, GCLA Director of Regulatory Services, made the call in Dar es Salaam on Thursday during a meeting with stakeholders involved in importation and distribution of chemicals organized by GCLA Eastern Zone Offices.

“All chemical stakeholders are legally required to register with the authority and comply with our established regulations to ensure their businesses are conducted safely, thereby protecting human health and the environment,” he said

Assistant Commissioner of Criminal Science at the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority Ziliwa Machibya emphasized the risks associated with chemicals, particularly regarding their misuse in drug production.

 He urged all precursor chemical stakeholders to follow registration procedures to ensure the chemicals are used safely and exclusively for their intended purposes in production.

Geoffrey Jato, an industry stakeholder, praised the authority for its educational outreach and close collaboration with industry partners which has helped resolve various challenges, including the registration process.

“Previously, many stakeholders were unaware of registration requirements. With this new knowledge, more stakeholders are likely to register, enabling safer purchasing and handling of chemicals,” he said.

He noted that, as a result, the number of accidents and cases of environmental degradation has decreased due to adherence to proper registration procedures.

Recently, GCLA also urged small-scale miners and processors in the country to register to be legally recognized as chemical users to help control unsafe use of chemicals.

Chief Government Chemist Dr Fidelice Mafumiko emphasized the point while opening a training session for gold processors on the safe and proper use of chemicals.

According to him, if GCLA has accurate data on the number of chemical users, it can effectively provide training on safe handling practices and ensure proper revenue collection.

He highlighted that the Industrial and Consumer Chemicals (Management and Control) Act [No. 3 of 2003] mandates the registration of all chemical users.