TANZANIA Bureau of Standards (TBS) joins the rest of the globe to celebrate the World Quality Day this week amid intention to open more new offices at the country’s entry points to cope with surging demand for its quality verification services by industries, businesses and consumers.
The standard body has since 1999 embarked on the Batch Certification (BC) scheme for imports to authenticate the quality of all products entering the country and check importation of substandard goods. The scheme entails collection of samples of
imported products from a consignment at the port of entry or at agreed premise by the bureau’s inspectors for testing and issuance of a test certificate.
“This scheme leads to TBS issuing the BC to certify that a particular import shipment of commodity conforms to specified Tanzanian standards,” says TBS Director of Quality Management Kezia Mbwambo.
TBS conducts quality verification at the points of entry at Dar es Salaam port and the border posts of Namanga, Holili, Horohoro, Sirari and Tanga port. But, increasing demand
for the services has compelled the standard body to consider opening new border offices at Tunduma, Mtukula, Rusumo and Mtambaswala as well as zonal offices at Arusha, Mbeya,
and Mwanza.
The compulsory BC scheme of imports covers imports falling into the compulsory standards. TBS started implementing the scheme in close collaboration with Tanzania Revenue Authority in June 1999. The standard body issues batch certificate upon being certified with the import standards and 12,133 certificates have been issued so far.
The compulsory batch certification scheme is one of several strategies that the country’s standard body applies in ensuring that only quality products get entry into the local market. Other strategies are the ‘TBS’ mark and tested product certification schemes as well as quality management systems registration.
“Let more companies, small and medium enterprises in particular, bring their products for quality certification to enable them compete in local and foreign markets,” advises Ms Mbwambo, noting that the TBS mark guarantees quality of the product. The TBS mark is gradually gaining popularity among ordinary people, with marketers using it as their product marketing niche.
And, it’s not uncommon to hear people on the streets demanding the TBS standard mark on consumables like oranges, apples or vegetables even though some ask for the mark as a mockery to the bureau. But, Ms Mbwambo appreciates the trend as a sign of growing public awareness about the country’s standard watchdog.
“The fact that people mention TBS, regardless of what they mean, is itself a success to us because that means they know and appreciate our existence.” The standard mark certification scheme, the largest and most popular, enables manufacturers whose products have passed the standard tests to use “TBS” mark, which indicates that samples of that product are independently and routinely tested and certified by TBS against the relevant Tanzanian standards.
Unfortunately, qualifying for the mark has remained an uphill task for small entrepreneurs in particular as the licence is exclusively granted to manufacturers conforming to rigorous quality auditing requirements of the standards mark licensing procedures.
Ms Mbwambo admits being aware of ensuing criticism against the strict licensing procedures but rules out any likely chance of softening the process: “We understand the difficulties small businesses encounter to qualify for the standard mark but that is it — there is no shortcut.” Manufacturers embrace the mark, which they say protects them from competing with inferior products, proving to the market that those products with “TBS” mark have satisfied all the requirements specified in the standards.
TBS has to date issued 1091 TBS mark licences. Besides standards for tangible products, TBS operates Management System Registration Scheme that is essentially for service organisations. The quality management system is a set of coordinated activities to direct and control an organisation to continually improve the effectiveness and efficiency of its performance.
An organisation uses the system to ensure that operations achieve the organisational goals and objectives. Ms Mbwambo says the standard bureau was doing its best to control quality of the products and get away with substandard products flooding the local market: “We are determined to ensure that Tanzania is not turned into a dumping site for low standards products.”
With one of the key objectives of TBS being to educate the public on standards issues, the bureau conducts training and offers consultancy services to business firms. The training and consultancy services offered are categorised into company standardisation, quality assurance, management systems, quality improvement, laboratory techniques and accreditation as well as packaging technology.
TBS has also launched a toll-free hotline to be used by the businesses, consumers and the general public for information on suspected substandard products in the market. TBS chief Charles Ekerege says that the move was part of the Bureau’s initiatives to involve the public in spotting and fighting inferior goods.
“Bearing in mind that TBS staff are stationed in fewer areas of the country, experience has shown we can effectively fight the war against substandard products by drawing full attention of the public, hence introducing this hotline,” he explains. The hotline number 0800 110 827 can be accessible anytime from now for customers connected with TTCL, Vodacom and Sasatel while arrangements are being made for those connected to Tigo, Airtel and Zantel to access it in the near future.
He reaffirmed that TBS would always act swiftly on information provided and maintains strict confidentiality. TBS was established under the Ministry of Industry and Trade by an Act of Parliament, the Standards Act No.3 of 1975 as the National Standards Institute and became operational in April 1976. It was subsequently renamed Tanzania Bureau of Standards through an amendment to the Act by Act No.1 of 1977.
The Standards Act No. 3 was later repealed and replaced by the Standards Act No. 2 of 2009, which gave the Bureau more powers in carrying out its mandate. The Bureau was established as part of the efforts by the government to strengthen the supporting institutional infrastructure for the industry and commerce sectors of the economy.
Specifically, TBS was mandated to undertake measures for quality control of products of all descriptions and to promote standardization in industry and commerce. TBS undertakes measures for quality control of commodities, services and environment of all descriptions and to promote standardization in industry and trade;
The Bureau also makes arrangements or provides facilities for the testing and calibration of precision instruments, gauges and scientific apparatus, for the determination of their degree of accuracy and traceability by comparison with standards approved by the Minister of Industry and Trade on the recommendation of the Board of Directors, and for issue of certificates in regard to them; TBS usually makes arrangements or provide facilities for the examination and testing of commodities and any material or substance from or with which, and the manner in which, they may be manufactured, produced, processed or treated;
To approve, register and control the use of standard marks in accordance with the provisions of the Standards Act; In the performance of its functions the Bureau keeps an eye on the health, safety, environment and general welfare of the people of the United Republic; and
maintains, as far as may be practicable, a system of consultation and co-operation with any body established by or under any written law and having functions similar or relating to industrial or commercial standards generally.
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