ZABS exceeds 2017 goals

THE Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) has exceeded its product testing for 2017 by 5, 032, meaning most of the products that were sold to consumers were tested thus increasing the conformity levels and giving consumers quality merchandises.

During the period under review, 14, 032 samples were tested with laboratories of ZABS against the target of 9, 000.

Commenting on the development, ZABS director, Manuel Mutale, emphasised that consumers were sold quality products during the period under review as most of them were tested.

“We had 14, 032 samples that we tested in our laboratories against a target of 9, 000 for the entire year. This means that most of the products that were sold to consumers were tested by ZABS thus increasing the conformity levels and giving consumers quality products,” he said.

Mr. Mutale also said 1, 923 factory inspections were conducted and 21, 316 products were inspected at boarder entry points. These were above the targets of 1, 700 and 20, 000 respectively.

He explained that the inspection aided in promoting quality both for local products and imports in Zambia.

“Products that were found wanting of the set standards, were seized and the manufacturers were educated on the need for them to join hands and work with ZABS in ensuring that quality of their products was a prerequisite,” he said.

Mr. Mutale also said ZABS managed to calibrate 2, 471 instruments in the metrology laboratories marginally above the target of 2, 400 for the year.

He explained that calibration played a pivotal role to industry and to consumers as it guaranteed accurate measurements that were internationally accepted and traceable. 

Meanwhile, Mr. Mutale said ZABS would next year have its current Regulatory and Metrology mandates transferred to other agencies and remain focused on standardisation, testing, training and certification services.

“The government through the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry (MCTI) passed new Acts to re-engineer the National Quality Infrastructure and this will take effect in 2018,

 “The restructuring will position ZABS well as a friend to industry and will be there to support the industrialisation and job creation agenda,” Mr. Mutale said.

Mr. Mutale said ZABS would follow through the Accreditation of its Testing Laboratories to ensure competitiveness of locally produced products.

“The “Tested Once Accepted Everywhere” principle can only work with internationally accepted test reports issued from accredited laboratories,” Mr. Mutale said.