Tanzania - Trade Standards Tanzania-Trade-Standards
The Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) has jurisdiction over all standards issues in the country. TBS is one of the more professional agencies in Tanzania, however it is burdened by a wide-ranging mandate. TBS standards generally follow internationally accepted norms, and rarely are difficult for the international business to achieve. In a few cases, TBS has adopted stricter standards in order to harmonize with the other East African Community members (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi). TBS has developed a comprehensive website with access to detailed publications and information on standards regulations (http://www.tbs.go.tz)
Standards Organizations
The TBS issues certification of standards (e.g., ISO 9000) mainly for manufactured products. TBS is a member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and represents Tanzania in all international standards work. It is the National Enquiry Point for WTO-TBT/SPS Agreements in Tanzania. TBS also manages information on technical regulations, adopted and proposed standards, conformity assessment procedures, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
TBS is also a member of the East African Community Bureau of Standards and the South African Development Community Committee of Experts for Standards, Quality Assurance, Accreditation and Metrology. TBS is a participating member to the Codex Alimentarius Commission of the Joint FAO and WHO and is fully represented on technical issues concerning standards and quality.
NIST Notify U.S. Service
Member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are required under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) to report to the WTO all proposed technical regulations that could affect trade with other Member countries. Notify U.S. is a free, web-based e-mail subscription service that offers an opportunity to review and comment on proposed foreign technical regulations that can affect your access to international markets. Register online at Internet URL: http://www.nist.gov/notifyus/
Conformity Assessment
The Testing and Calibration Department is composed of seven laboratories: the Food and Microbiology Laboratory, the Chemistry Laboratory, the Textile and Leather Laboratory, the Electrical Engineering Laboratory, the Mechanical Engineering Laboratory, the Building and Construction Laboratory, and the Metrology Laboratory. The laboratories provide facilities for the testing of products to ensure their conformity to the requirements of relevant standards, and calibration of precision instruments and measuring and scientific equipment for various clients.
The laboratories are maintained at the highest possible operating level. They are well equipped in terms of staff, equipment and procedures and operate in compliance with ISO/IEC Guide 25.
Product Certification
TBS implements and certifies third party standards, carries out pre-export / pre-import inspection and testing, and conducts calibration of industrial and commercial measuring equipment and instruments.
TBS product certification schemes require that the products comply with the requirements and characteristics of the relevant standards. These requirements and characteristics are quality, material, composition, design, safety, durability and performance.
Accreditation
Accreditation of products can be facilitated by TBS or the relevant industry association. The Tanzania Chamber of Commerce and Industry can be of assistance at: http://www.tccia.com
Publication of Technical Regulations
TBS has published more than 1500 standards in the fields of agriculture and food chemicals, textiles, leather, general techniques, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, building and construction. The standards are available on its website (http://www.tbs.go.tz)
Labeling and Marking
Tanzania follows international (ISO) standards for labeling and marking of imports and does not impose special requirements. For local goods, TBS maintains requirements for labeling and marking, which generally follow ISO guidelines.
Contacts
Director
Tanzania Bureau of Standards
Ubungo Area, Morogoro Road / Sam Nujoma Road
P O Box 9524, Dar es Salaam, TANZANIA.
Tel: +255 22 245 0298 | +255 22 245 0206 | +255 22 245 0949
Fax: +255 22 245 0959
E-mail: info@tbs.go.tz
Website: www.tbs.go.tz; www.eac-quality.net
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