By MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA –
THE Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) will procure mobile testing laboratories at a cost US$150,000 to be used for testing of products in Muchinga Province.
ZABS director Manuel Mutale said the bureau plans to procure mobile testing laboratory that would improve the quality of locally manufactured products that are consumed on the market.
Mr Mutale said his organisation was working with the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) to help local manufacturers and Small and Medium Enterprenuer’s (SMEs) to improve on the quality of products.
“ZABs will purchase mobile laboratories to be used for testing of products in the provinces. We already have one mobile testing laboratory in Chipata, Eastern Province and that has helped in ensuring there is compliance,” Mr Mutale said.
He said ZABS would push to increase on the number of compulsory standards in order to improve on the compliance to standards.
“A total of 59 standards have been approved by the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry for declaration as compulsory standards,” he said.
ZABS enforces quality of products that are under compulsory regulations and Mr Mutale said to date 3,000 Zambian standards have been published out of which 50 are compulsory.
“It important to note we do not regulate everything ,we inspect products that affect public health and safety,” he said.
Mr Mutale said in the year 2015 to date a total of 11,043 consignments were inspected at various border offices.
“The compliance levels for general goods is at satisfactory levels and we intend to inspect about 15,000 products by end of this year,” Mr Mutale said.