Browsing by Author "Makalanga, Lily"

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    Government regulatory mechanisms on imported food products for children under five: a study of Dar es Salaam Region
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2009) Makalanga, Lily
    This study was conducted to investigate the nature of government regulatory mechanisms on imported food products for children under five years of age in Dar es Salaam. region. More specifically, the study analyzed the effectiveness of the existing rules and regulations and the mechanisms employed by the regulatory agencies in controlling and monitoring the importation of food products for children. A total of 96 respondents including parents (women, men), food sellers (retailers, wholesalers and local market sellers), Ward Executive Officers and Health Officers from District Hospitals in Dar es Salaam were involved in the study. Data for the study was obtained by using questionnaires, interviews, documentary reviews and field observations. The collected data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social sciences (SPSS). The findings revealed that the existing rules and regulations are not effective. They are not known by most of the imported food consumers, food dealers and the community at large, which indicated the inadequacy of the law enforcers. It was observed that inadequacy of law enforcers was due to financial constraints by the government to provide regular training, seminars and general awareness campaigns to the public. Low coverage of the inspection services by the regulatory bodies at the entry points and at the market was noted as another reason that created loopholes to unfaithful food dealers to import poor quality food products. It is, therefore recommended that, the government should allocate more funds to facilitate regular training of staffs, strengthening the entry points services, establishment of new offices in other parts of the country by recruiting qualified and competent staff that will cope with the eruption of imported goods especially food products.