MBEYA: THE Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) Board of Directors has directed TBS Management to develop strategies to address the issue of products entering the country through informal routes, bypassing necessary inspections.
The directive was issued by TBS Chairman, Prof Othman Chande Othman, during a visit to the TBS offices at the Tunduma and Kasumulu border posts.
The aim of the visit was to assess current operations and identify strategies to enhance the Bureau’s effectiveness and support business growth.
“Apart from strategies to curb the illegal entry of products, TBS management should continue educating the public about the dangers of using banned and uninspected products,” said Prof Chande.
During these visits, they emphasised the importance of ensuring both imported and locally manufactured goods are marked to make it easier for consumers to identify quality-assured products.
This directive follows a report by TBS Director General, Dr Ashura Katunzi, who highlighted that uninspected products, including banned cosmetics, continue to enter the market through informal channels.
“Despite collaboration with other regulatory authorities in market surveillances and at official entry points, such as border posts, airports and ports, the issue of porous borders persists,” she noted.
The Board noted that the continued presence of sub standards and banned products reflects its high demand in the market.
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This highlights the importance of reinforcing education campaigns and strengthening surveillance to ensure consumer safety and protect the integrity of the market.
As a result, they urged TBS to strengthen public education efforts and to ensure all inspected products are clearly marked for consumer identification.
Strengthening public education efforts, such as campaigns that explain how to identify safe and quality-assured goods, will ensure that consumers are better equipped to make informed decisions.
It also emphasises the need for a more effective product labelling system to enhance market transparency.
