It has been two years since Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS) banned the exportation and selling of second-hand under garments due to hygienic safety concerns. Despite the ban, these items continued to be sold around the country.

RBS Director of Quality Insurance, Philip Nzaire said, "We cannot afford to go to each and every place to check if second-hand under garments are still being sold, so we have decided to involve local leaders to enforce the ban".

RBS has signed a memorandum of understanding with the ministry of local government (Minaloc) to engage local leaders in the process of eradicating the sale of such clothing.

The cooperation will, according to him, help, as these leaders are spread around the country and are closer to business dealers. They are better prepared to locate such illegal items and stop them from being sold.

Bras, underwear, and socks are among the clothes that have been forbidden.

"This ban has been an EAC policy since 2011. Rwanda has been doing its best to minimize the sale of these clothes until they are totally eradicated," he said. "There is no clear reason for importing such old clothes that may be a health risk to our citizens. It's the government's responsibility, through RBS, to protect its citizens regarding what clothes are suitable to wear."

He says that used under garments already purchased by vendors should have been eradicated by January last year.

The director said that currently, there are no longer new exports of such clothing. He claims that, "the few imports that still come into Rwanda are brought from neighbouring countries."

Nzaire said he is optimistic that once the partnership with local leaders applies, the ban will be fully in effect.

He said, "Some of these clothes are sent without being properly cleaned and may transmit sexual related diseases to our people."

For Rwanda to effectively implement the policy, all used under garments found are to be shipped back to the country from where they came.

Nzaire says that rather then preventing people from buying cheap clothes, this ban is protecting them from health risks that will cost much more than a new pair of underwear: "It's buying cheap things which may make you pay much for treatment. Prevention is better than cure." Nzaire said.

He urged business dealers to import new under garments, and advised the public that wearing new under garments is a way showing respect for oneself and your health.

But many people do not understand the risks of second hand under garments, and find the ban a nuisance.

One man, who wished to remain anonymous, confessed: "Second-hand clothes are almost everywhere. I've been wearing these kinds of clothes since my childhood and they haven't caused any harm to my body. It would be better for the government to promote industries in Rwanda that make such clothes."

The government has not indicated any plans to promote the local under garment industry.