AfricaPress-Tanzania: THE Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) has handed over certificates and licences to 141 large, medium and small manufacturers for using quality standards mark after the goods they produce met standards.
Out of the manufacturers, 58 were small scale manufacturers who deal with manufacturing of sanitisers, food products, lubricants, electric and construction equipment.
The TBS Director General, Dr Yusuf Ngenya, said at the handing over of the certificates and licences in Dar es Salaam over the weekend that the standard watchdog always grants certificates and licences to manufacturers to use the quality standard mark after their goods meet standards.
Dr Ngenya said granting certificates and licences to use TBS standard mark will help manufacturers compete and penetrate in the regional markets particularly in the East Africa Community. With the TBS quality mark, the local produced goods will not be liable for testing standards in the regional markets.
“TBS has been granting certificates and licences to small scale manufacturers every three months as a way to encourage them to grow and compete with large scale manufacturers,” he said.
He added, “I thank President John Magufuli for the opportunity of serving small scale manufacturers freely particularly when they want their goods get TBS quality standard mark.”
Dr Ngenya urged small scale manufacturers to become TBS ambassadors to encourage other entrepreneurs to make sure their goods get quality standard mark from the standard watchdog.
“Make sure you continue producing goods with highest quality and which adhere to the certificates and licences granted to you today. TBS will be conducting impromptu inspections to see if your products meet the required standards,” he said.
On his part, the Ihnemeter Director General, Abraham Rajakili thanked TBS for handing them certificates and licences as it will give them confidence to penetrate the wide markets both domestic and international.
In the meantime, TBS registered about 513 business premises that deal with food and cosmetic products as well as registering more than 596 food and cosmetic products.
“Since the obligation of supervising the quality of food and cosmetic was officially shifted to TBS, no business person is allowed to conduct business in food and cosmetic products in the market or premises without first getting TBS approval,” Dr Ngenya emphasized.
