Africa-Press – Tanzania. TANZANIA Bureau of Standards (TBS) has advised small scale entrepreneurs to grab an opportunity of getting a free quality certification licence for their products to withstand competition in the markets.
The Bureau’s Lake Zone Manager, Engineer Joseph Mwaipaja said yesterday at the ongoing Nanenane exhibitions (in the zone) that, any entrepreneur who is registered to Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO) is eligible to have the licence.
“That is one and key condition an applicant should meet. We have been taking measures to smoothen trade operations and promote local products but we also inform the public that putting the products in markets without certification violates the Standards Act,” he said.
“Majority of entrepreneurs decide to sell their products without having the licence but to simplify the procedures for accessing the certificate the services can now be accessed online and within the short period of time,” he said.
However, he explained that the time one may spend waiting for the certificate depends on the kind of products since sometimes the process involves product culturing, a step that takes not less than a month.
In an effort to shorten licence issuance period in Lake Zone, TBS is set to install a laboratory in Mwanza this fiscal year, as it currently uses the facility located in Dar es Salaam.
According to him, before applying for the license, an applicant should make sure that all sanitation issues have been taken into consideration at the production site as well as personal hygiene to all staff.
The ‘Daily News’ sought entrepreneurs’ comments on TBS free certification offer but most of them seemed not to be aware of the process to benefit from the offer.
Director for Musoma Animal Feeds Company, Mr Leonard Mubai commended TBS effort and admitted that before introduction of the online services many entrepreneurs were avoiding engaging in the certification process due to bureaucracy involved.
He said that free licensing would attract many entrepreneurs to fully engage in trading so as to grab the markets in East Africa and beyond.
“This will also improve individuals’wellbeing while also contributing to the country’s economic growth,” he commented.
“The number of Tanzanians that turns to entrepreneurship keeps on increasing since it is one of the areas that helps to fight unemployment. Therefore reducing trade barriers by TBS is of utmost importance and has numerous benefits, “he added.
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