Expired and substandard goods are a common sight in Somali markets and supermarkets, with many traders importing products close to or past their expiry dates to maximize profit. Without effective regulation, low-quality medicines, food, electronics, vehicles, and construction materials flood the market, endangering public health and stifling local production. Although the Somali Bureau of Standards (SoBS) was established in 2020 to oversee quality control, it functions largely as a symbolic institution, offering little real enforcement. Cheap, substandard imports undercut honest traders and drive local farmers and producers out of business. The prevalence of low-quality medicines from abroad has been linked to widespread multi-drug-resistant bacteria, while expired or unsafe food imports contribute to a rise in chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. In the automotive sector, outdated right-hand-drive vehicles dominate the market, despite Somalia’s left-hand-drive traffic rules, while counterfeit electronics labeled as global brands flood shops.