Senegalese consumers have been warned. On the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day, March 15th, the Senegalese Federation of Consumer Associations (FESAC) published an alarming report on the state of the Senegalese market. According to the study, the country has become a veritable "dumping ground" for dangerous products.

The report, reviewed by L'Observateur, denounces a worrying proliferation of substandard goods. Expired food products are being repackaged, counterfeit medicines are circulating outside official channels, skin-lightening cosmetics contain carcinogenic substances such as mercury or hydroquinone, and uncertified electronic devices or defective chargers are causing domestic accidents. The largely unregulated online marketplace is opening new doors to scams and products lacking traceability.

FESAC also highlights serious flaws in the control system: the authorities (Customs, Domestic Trade, laboratories) lack resources, especially in rural areas, and institutions operate in isolation, without coordination or an early warning system. Sanctions are negligible compared to the profits made by fraudsters, creating a cycle of impunity, while porous borders allow Senegal to import 60% of the products rejected in Europe and America for non-compliance.

At the same time, the report highlights that purchasing power is being stifled by the cost of housing. In major cities like Dakar, Thiès, and Saint-Louis, rent absorbs between 40% and 60% of household income, negating any benefit from price reductions on basic necessities. FESAC denounces land speculation that makes housing inaccessible to low-income populations.

Faced with this situation, FESAC is calling for urgent measures: criminalizing the sale of dangerous products as a crime against public health, creating a national early warning system for imported products, and regulating the rental market with a public price registry and deterrent penalties. The federation insists: "Product safety is no longer negotiable; it is a matter of social justice."