Describes the country's standards landscape, identifies the national standards and accreditation bodies, and lists the main national testing organization(s) and conformity assessment bodies.
Last Published: 7/24/2019

Overview

The government has taken steps to improve consumer protection in Zimbabwe.  Currently, there are various laws requiring that retailers and manufacturers maintain certain standards.  A Consumer Council of Zimbabwe exists and advises consumers about their rights.

Standards

The Standards Association of Zimbabwe and Bureau Veritas are charged with the responsibility of certifying the quality of most non-medical goods produced or imported into the country. 
The Medicines Control Association of Zimbabwe, which replaced the drug council established by the Drugs Control Act of 1969, requires the registration of drugs and regulates and controls the sale, advertising, manufacture, possession and safe custody of drugs.

Testing, inspection and certification


Experience suggests that the Medicines Control Association of Zimbabwe is more proactive than the Standards Association of Zimbabwe in checking for conformity in the pharmaceuticals sector. 

In 2015, the government also implemented the consignment based conformity assessment (CBCA) program by appointing Bureau Veritas to verify and assess conformity to standards and declared value of certain goods in exporting countries before shipment.

Once Bureau Veritas is satisfied with product assessment, then they issue a CBCA certificate.  Goods not accompanied with the required CBCA certificate will be refused from entering the country.

In addition, The Quality Control Department of the Standards Association of Zimbabwe carries out product certification as well at: 17 Coventry Road, Workington, Harare, Zimbabwe, Tel: 263 24 2753 800-2.
 

Publication of technical regulations

Both the Medicines Control Association of Zimbabwe and the Standards Association of Zimbabwe are involved in accreditation of products produced or imported into the country and they also publicize technical details.

Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are required under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) to notify to the WTO proposed technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures that could affect trade. Notify U.S. (www.nist.gov/notifyus) is a free, web-based e-mail registration service that captures and makes available for review and comment key information on draft regulations and conformity assessment procedures. Users receive customized e-mail alerts when new notifications are added by selected country(ies) and industrial sector(s) of interest and can also request full texts of regulations.  This service and its associated web site are managed and operated by the USA WTO TBT Inquiry Point housed within the National Institute of Standards and Technology, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Contact Information

Standards Association of Zimbabwe 
Northend Close, Northridge Park, Borrowdale, Harare. 
Tel: 263 242 882017/8/9, 242882021, 242885511/2 
Fax: 263 242 882020 
Web: http://www.saz.org.zw/   

Medicines Control Association of Zimbabwe 
106 Baines Avenue
Harare, Zimbabwe.
Tel: 263 242 736 981-5 
 

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