PENALTIES RISE TO E100 000

MBABANE – From E100 to E100 000.

This is the new maximum fine for contravening the amended Dairy Act EDB 1968. EDB is the Eswatini Dairy Board.  The Act provides for the control and improvement of the dairy industry and its products and for incidental or connected matters. 

According to amendments made to Section 31 which speaks to penalties; any person who commits an offence under this Act shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding E100 000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 20) years. Previously, any person who commits an offence under this Act was liable on conviction to a fine of E100 or in default of payment thereof to three months imprisonment.

procedures

While the Act spells out duties of the Board, there are also sections that address procedures to be followed in the industry. Without prejudice to the requirement to obtain a permit under this part any person who, otherwise than in accordance with the conditions of a written licence issued by the local authority, carries on the business of a dairy, or a milk-shop, or a milk purveyor, shall be guilty of an offence.

Meanwhile, Eswatini Dairy Board is a public enterprise wholly owned by Eswatini Government. 

It was established in 1971 under the Dairy Act No. 28 of 1968. As provided in the Act, the Board’s primary function is to develop and regulate the industry. 

The Board’s role is to complement the Government’s efforts through the provision of a supportive socio-economic environment for the development of the dairy industry aimed at achieving food security, poverty reduction, investment promotion, job creation and export promotion.

As per  the Act, the general duties of the Board shall be organising the efficient, orderly and stable production of dairy products and regulate and develop their distribution and marketing; ensuring that the quality of dairy products is of a standard suitable for public health; advising the Minister as to whether prices of dairy products should be fixed, among others.

EDB was yet to respond to a questionnaire on the amendment at the time of filing this report around 12:30pm yesterday.

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