Africa-Press – Tanzania. IN response to the on-going complaints against charges for inspection and testing for specifications, the Zanzibar Bureau of Standards (ZBS) has asked small scale manufacturers and entrepreneurs to remain patient, promising a better future.
“We understand that our charges for the compulsory products testing and specification are high, bringing a challenge to many local producers and small entrepreneurs.”
ZBS Director General- Ms Rahima Ali Bakar said at a press conference.
Several small entrepreneurs have raised concerns over ZBS charges for testing the products they produce saying it has been a big challenge to the growth of their businesses.
She said ZBS future plans will enable them to minimize the costs and also produce standard products.
“We have been encouraged several times to become entrepreneurs and establish small industries, but in practice the business environment is not favorable,” Ms Amina Shaabani, an entrepreneur, complained.
Giving an example Ms Shaabani said they were paying between 300,000/- and 1.5m/- per product.
The ZBC boss said given the fact that the construction and installation of equipment in some labs is yet to be completed the Bureau outsources the service in private labs, increasing testing costs.
She said the Bureau has three testing labs namely, Electrical and Electronic Laboratory; Chemistry laboratory and Food chemistry laboratory.
