Tanzania pulls 17,000 fake condoms off the market

The Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA) seized 17,076 counterfeit and unregistered condoms in fiscal 2019/20.

The condoms posed a risk of unwanted pregnancy and sexually-transmitted infections and were smuggled into the country, according to TMDA acting director of medical products control Akida Khea, reported in TheCitizen.co.tz.

The seized condoms included Lifeguard, Chishango, Pudence, Ultimate and Maximum Classic brands, says the article.

Counterfeit condoms are typically made of inferior quality materials and do not undergo the same rigorous quality control checks as legitimate products, which raises the risk of allergic and other reactions, unwanted pregnancies and infections among users.

They can also be made in unsanitary conditions and some may be recycled from used condoms.