He challenged the government at a press conference in the
city to ensure it participates fully in all international moves to eliminate
the problem of substandard goods.
Mr Steele said ISO has realised that Tanzania
has not done enough to strengthen its standards verification body, the Tanzania
Bureau of Standards (TBS).
He urged the government to strengthen the bureau for it to
have more impact in the elimination of inferior products entering the country.
Tanzania has since 1999 been verifying goods through a system called
Destination Inspection (DI), which has, however, proven difficult to detect
substandard imports due to various entry points, including unofficial ones.
Other difficulties with the DI system have been inadequate
consignment storage facilities at Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) premises, the
need for thorough verification on some unfeasible products and conformity
verification delays.
“Overall, we commend the country for recording some progress
in the fight but I think more need to be done especially in the areas of
resources that are vital if positive impact is to be recorded and maintained,”
suggested Mr Steele.
The senior ISO official said he has met and held talks with
the Minister for Industry and Trade, Dr Abdallah Kigoda, who ‘’showed high
commitment in moving further steps to contain the problem.’’
He said while the
problem of substandard was a global issue, more public education must be
provided while buyers should try hard to avoid buying cheap products whose
quality is not guaranteed.
The SG said he was aware of complaints and accusations
regarding the quality of Chinese products, but noted that the industrialised
and technologically- advanced far-eastern country had been fighting hard to
tackle the problem.
He was of the view that Tanzania should participate fully in
the regional, continental and global efforts to harmonize outdated standard
regulations before imposing strict legislation action like taking the culprits
to the courts of law.
On agriculture, he said his organization was keenly
following up Tanzania positive steps in improving the sector, but cautioned
standard agriculture equipment must be maintained for the sector to deliver.
For the country to effectively compete in facilitating trade
locally and beyond borders, he said, it was crucial that Tanzania meet all
international standards governing production, processing and movement of goods
and products to the international markets.
On his side, the TBS Acting Director General, Mr Leandri
Kinabo, said ISO has promised to continue supporting the Bureau in realizing
its objectives especially in some technical areas.
“ISO has pledged to extend its
support in various aspects particularly in Information and Communication
Technology as well as other specific areas and programmes,” he said.
Tanzania ranks poorly in deployment of human resources with
a staff of 200 compared to the rest of East Africa. Kenya has over 1,000 staff
while Burundi has got over 400 staff in their respective bureaus of standards.
However, despite limited staff, TBS plans to open a number of border offices
for close monitoring of unofficial routes used to smuggle substandard goods.
Source: The Daily News, www.dailynews.co.tz, reported by Pius Rugonzibwa in Dar es Salaam
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