Zimbabwe CTC: Launches Pasta Import Safeguard Investigation

• Zimbabwe's Competition and Tariff Commission has launched a safeguard investigation into pasta imports following an application by National Foods Limited.
• Pasta imports increased by 17.4 percent last year, with volumes rising from 49.5 million kg in 2024 to 58.1 million kg in 2025, and imported pasta undercutting local prices by up to 17.8 percent.
• National Foods, the sole domestic producer, alleges serious injury from these increased imports, citing deteriorating financial performance and mounting losses.
• The commission noted improvements in National Foods' production, sales, and market share during the review period, suggesting other factors like start-up costs might contribute to its financial state.
• Interested parties, including importers and exporters, are invited to formally participate in the investigation within 30 days to influence potential provisional or definitive trade measures.

Legal and compliance professionals advising clients involved in the import, export, or domestic production of pasta in Zimbabwe must be aware of this ongoing safeguard investigation.

Zimbabwe's Competition and Tariff Commission (CTC) has officially launched a safeguard investigation into pasta imports, following a formal application by National Foods Limited. This action comes after a significant 17.4 percent increase in pasta shipments last year, which National Foods, the country's sole known domestic producer, claims is causing substantial harm to its operations. The initiation of this **Zimbabwe pasta import safeguard investigation** was announced via a notice published in the Government Gazette on Friday.

The investigation stems from National Foods' assertion that pasta products are entering Zimbabwe in escalating quantities, both in absolute terms and relative to local production, under conditions that inflict serious injury upon the domestic industry. National Foods began local pasta production in February 2024, having previously operated as an importer of the product. The **National Foods safeguard application** highlights a shift in the company's business model, now seeking protection for its nascent domestic manufacturing.

The core of National Foods' complaint centers on the dramatic rise in imported pasta volumes. According to the commission's data, pasta imports surged from approximately 49.5 million kilograms in 2024 to 58.1 million kilograms in 2025. These imports dominated the local market, accounting for an estimated 88 percent of the domestic market in 2024 and 87 percent in 2025. Furthermore, imported pasta volumes were equivalent to 6.7 times domestic production in 2024 and seven times local output in 2025, underscoring the significant presence of foreign products.

National Foods alleges that this influx of **CTC Zimbabwe pasta imports** has led to a deterioration in its financial performance and mounting losses. The commission's preliminary analysis also revealed that imported pasta is priced below domestically produced alternatives, with a reported price undercutting of up to 17.8 percent. This competitive disadvantage is a key element of the **import injury investigation Zimbabwe** is now undertaking.

While National Foods attributes its financial struggles to increased imports, the Competition and Tariff Commission's initial observations present a more nuanced picture. The CTC noted that during the period under review, National Foods actually experienced improvements in production, sales, capacity utilization, productivity, and market share. The commission also suggested that start-up and expansion costs associated with National Foods' transition from importing to domestic production could be contributing factors to its financial situation, acknowledging that elements other than increased imports might be affecting the domestic industry's condition.

In response to the alleged injury, National Foods has requested a **provisional safeguard measure pasta** while the investigation proceeds. The commission is currently evaluating whether circumstances exist where delaying such a measure could result in damage that would be difficult to rectify. This consideration is a critical step in the broader framework of **Zimbabwe trade remedies pasta** regulations.

The safeguard investigation covers the period from February 2024 to December 2025 and is expected to conclude within six months, with a provision for a single extension of up to two additional months. The CTC has extended an invitation to all interested parties to participate in this crucial inquiry. This includes domestic producers, importers, exporters, foreign producers, governments of exporting countries, trade associations, and any other relevant organizations or individuals.

Interested parties wishing to participate must formally indicate their interest in writing to the commission within 30 days from the investigation's initiation date. They are also encouraged to submit written evidence and arguments, including their perspectives on whether the imposition of a safeguard measure would serve the public interest. Legal and compliance professionals advising clients involved in the import, export, or domestic production of pasta in Zimbabwe must be aware of this ongoing safeguard investigation.

Legal and compliance professionals advising clients involved in the import, export, or domestic production of pasta in Zimbabwe must be aware of this ongoing safeguard investigation. They should consider advising clients to formally participate within the 30-day deadline to influence potential provisional or definitive trade measures that could significantly impact market access and supply chain costs.

Source: Original reporting via NewZimbabwe.com