TBS: Certification opens doors to regional markets

KIGOMA: TANZANIA Bureau of Standards (TBS) has called on businesses to view product certification as a gateway to the expanding East African market, rather than simply a regulatory requirement.

Speaking during the Lake Tanganyika Expo 2026 in Kigoma, TBS Western Zone Manager, Mr Hamisi Seleleko, said certification can help manufacturers and traders meet market requirements and expand their businesses across the region.

“Quality certification gives manufacturers an opportunity to enter the domestic market as well as the markets of East African member states, which currently comprise eight countries,” Mr Seleleko said.

He said TBS’s participation in the exhibition, which runs from September 16 to 22 at the Community Centre grounds in Kigoma, is aimed at promoting its services and educating entrepreneurs and manufacturers on opportunities created by quality certification.

The TBS Western Zone serves Kigoma, Katavi and Tabora regions, according to Mr Seleleko.

He said certification could give local businesses greater access to markets by demonstrating that their products meet required quality and safety standards.

“This is an opportunity for manufacturers and traders to understand the certification process and use it to improve their access to markets,” he said.

At the exhibition, TBS has established a special desk where members of the public and businesses can receive services and guidance directly from its officials.

The services include product registration and education on the registration of food and cosmetic products.

Mr Seleleko said registration is an important requirement for demonstrating that food and cosmetic products meet safety requirements for consumers.

The bureau is also using the exhibition to educate consumers and traders about prohibited products and display samples of cosmetics and other products that fail to meet required standards or contain banned and potentially harmful ingredients.

He urged manufacturers to use the exhibition to begin the certification process by submitting applications online and meeting the required conditions.

TBS officials can then inspect production premises, test products and, where all requirements are met, issue licences allowing manufacturers to use the TBS quality mark.

Mr Seleleko said certification should therefore be viewed as part of a business strategy to improve product acceptance and expand market opportunities rather than merely as a compliance obligation.

He also invited food and cosmetic traders participating in the exhibition to visit the TBS stand to obtain assistance with product inspection and registration.

The move is expected to help businesses understand quality requirements while encouraging more manufacturers to formalise their products and position them for wider domestic and regional markets.