Tanzania Bureau of Standards appeals to entrepreneurs to obtain quality mark for products

TANZANIA – Tanzania’s standards watchdog, the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), has urged entrepreneurs to acquire the quality standard mark for their products that will enable them to easily penetrate the East African market.

The call was made by the TBS Marketing officer Rhoda Mayugu at the just ended 21st Jua kali/Nguvu Kazi (literally meaning manpower) micro, small scale entrepreneurs (MSMEs) exhibitions held in Mwanza, Tanzania.

The exhibitions that started on Dec 2, 2021, attracted exhibitors from Tanzania, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya.

“Entrepreneurs should acquire TBS quality standards mark because it would enable them to penetrate the East African market without encountering hurdles. We encourage all entrepreneurs who participated in the just ended exhibitions to make sure they acquire quality standard mark because it is recognized in the EAC region,” she said.

She said by acquiring quality standard marks, entrepreneurs in the country can expand their markets domestically, in the region and beyond.

Mayugu said some of the TBS obligations include the provision of education to manufacturers, staff of institutional and industrial sectors to enhance the production of high-quality goods as well as quality assurance.

TBS leveraged the entrepreneurs’ exhibition to educate SMEs on the need to acquire quality standard marks to expand their business.

“We used the opportunity to inform entrepreneurs that all goods produced in the country should have the TBS quality standard mark,” she said.

The TBS quality standard mark can benefit manufacturers, business people and consumers. For business people and manufacturers, the TBS quality standard mark gives them the confidence to penetrate and expand their markets within and outside the country.

When domestic goods get TBS certification after being tested at the standard watchdog laboratory and granted certificates, then they can easily penetrate local, regional and global markets.

For consumers, the TBS quality standard mark gives them confidence that goods procured and consumed have met the required safety and health standards.

The organizers were targeting at least 1500 artisans from the EAC partner States of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. According to the organizers, the 20th edition of the trade fair which was held in Kigali, Rwanda in December 2019 registered success with more than 1000 exhibitors from across the region.

The exhibition ran under the theme; Promoting Quality and Innovation to enhance EAC Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Competitiveness and post Covid-19 recovery.

The exhibitions have benefited small scale traders in building capacity on value addition, cross border trade and understanding the EAC simplified trade regime.