TANZANIA – The Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) has trained staff dealing with production and measurement in industries from four Lake Zone regions in metrology science to help them ensure correct measurements in the products produced.
The training conducted in the regions of Kagera, Mwanza, Mara and Shinyanga was under the theme, “Metrology, key for quality control”.
Speaking during the training, TBS Director of Testing and Metrology, Engineer Johannes Maganga said the standard watchdog offers training in measurement science to assist the country in developing accurate measuring standards.
“The training focused on enhancing their understanding of metrology systems in the country and globally, the obligations and national metrology laboratory services as well as certificate of calibration,” he said.
Additionally, he stated that the training was designed to improve the ability of the professionals to handle metrology measures and assess the quality of goods.
Engineer Maganga expounded that TBS calibrates lab apparatus, offers accurate readings, and later verifies the accuracy of the measurement.
“After the training, we will visit the experts in their work areas to see how they use the equipment. We believe that after the training, the participants will work based on quality and correct measurements,” he said and insisted that the knowledge imparted on measurements will be provided regularly.
According to Mr. Maganga, the national metrology laboratory’s duties include maintaining national measures, offering calibration services, representing the nation internationally in all matters pertaining to measurements, and providing training and guidance on measurements.
The TBS Manager for Metrology, Stella Mrosso said the training on metrology has been provided to the Lake Zone regions taking aboard workers in production and measurement in industries, institutions and laboratory experts.
TBS urges EAC traders abide to standards
In other news, TBS has urged to traders in East Africa to abide to standards set in their countries to avoid cross border hurdles for easy access to regional markets.
At the recently concluded East Africa Business Exhibition in Dar es Salaam, TBS Marketing Officer Deborah Haule said that the EAC member states had formally agreed on the transit of goods with quality mark of standards.
“When an individual business person from one country sends goods with quality mark of standards to another country, then they will not undergo testing for quality certification,” she said.
The EAC bureau of standards entered into this agreement, she claimed, in order to overcome business bottlenecks. As a result, it is crucial for traders to obtain the quality mark of standards from their respective standards bodies.
“This initiative is aimed at facilitating and boosting businesses in the EAC member states and contribute to economic development,” she noted, mentioning food traders in the region.
Businesspeople in the area, according to her, must certify items using the TBS online system, where they may enter all the essential data and make the necessary payments.
Haule noted that the traders must then deliver the samples to TBS. TBS offers Pre-Shipment Verification of Conformity (PVoC), where the items are inspected in the country of origin, after receiving registration.
She claimed that the trader receives a certificate of conformity following the inspection.
Before allowing the trader to enter the nation, TBS examines the certificate of conformity and inspects the shipment. Without a certificate of conformity, the trader is penalized 15% of the cargo, followed by an inspection.
“When goods are found with some defaults the trader is ordered to send them back to the country of origin or destroy them at own costs,” explained Haule.
She stated that there is no need to register commodities other than food; they can simply follow the PVoC processes.
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