TBS, LGAs ink deal for consumers’ health

TANZANIA Bureau of Standards (TBS) and Dar es Salaam Local Government Authorities (LGAs) have signed an agreement to cooperate in the registration and inspection of food and cosmetic premises to enhance the protection of consumers’ health.

The Assistant Dar es Salaam Regional Administrative Secretary (Infrastructure), EngIneer Amani Mafuru, said recently that, as per the agreement, 40 per cent of the collections from registration and inspections will go to the municipal councils and the rest to TBS.

“The registration and inspection of food and cosmetic premises on behalf of the TBS is a new source that will boost revenues for the municipal councils in Dar City,” he said.

Eng. Mafuru said the agreement stated clearly the TBS obligations but the standard watchdog cannot in itself implement them at the grassroots level.

“We then discussed with the TBS in 2019 on how we can work together and support in the registration and inspection of food and cosmetic premises and products at the lower level,” he noted.

Eng. Mafuru said the agreement will help increase efficiency in providing services on time while observing quality and safety for consumers.

The agreement shows that there are obligations to be implemented by the municipal councils but also that they will help TBS execute its legally binding obligations.

The agreement centred on the inspection and registration of cosmetic and food premises, warehouses, food shops, hotels and restaurants.

He said LGAs have a wide network close to the people and in Dar es Salaam, the food and cosmetic businesses are conducted in the municipals, wards and streets.

The cooperation will enable Dar municipalities to receive a cut of at least 40 per cent of the total collection of the inspection and registration fees during the verification period.

“TBS is going to cooperate with the LGAs in registering these business premises to enable the flow of quality products… because most of the traders are yet to register their premises,” he added.

The TBS’s Director General, Dr Athuman Ngenya said the purpose of the agreement was to make sure that the public is getting quality products that match the value of money.

“We have seen it important to work together with the LGAs to make sure that the public is free from unsafe products since they will be conducting inspections during registrations,” said Dr Ngenya.