About ZABS
The Zambia Bureau of Standard Act No. 22 of 1982 established the ZABS but was repealed and replace in 1994 by the standard Act CAP 416 of the laws of Zambia. The new Act redefined the functions, responsibilities and powers of ZABS and created the standards council of zambia to oversee the operations of the ZABS.
ACTIVITIES OF ZABS
A) Standard writing
The ZABS formulates national standards , which serve as minimum requirement in the country. The Zambia Bureau of Standards sets different types of standards, namely, basic standards,product standards,method standards and codes of practice.
B) Standards implementation
ZABS implements standards through product certification scheme whereby good quality products conforming to Zambian standards are given a quality mark which gives the consumers confidence. ZABS also implements standards through Import and Exports inspections.
C) Sale of world Standards
ZABS is selling agent for International Standards(ISO and IEC), Regional standards, and foreign standards from other countries in the world.
D) Information services
The Zabs standards Library has a large collection of international, Regional and foreign standards and Technical regulations. It is also the WTO/TBT inquiry point. The library is also open to members, government departments and learning institutions.
E) Calibration Service
The ZABS Metrology Laboratory houses the National Measurement standards and provides calibration services to link measurements to international measurements system. All measurements are thus traceable to the International Measurement Standards.
F) Training and consultancy
Consultancy services and training is offered in the areas of standardisation, quality control and assurance, quality management systems, measurements technology and front office quality service delivery.
G) ZABS Testing Laboratories
ZABS Testing Laboratories primary objective is to provide high quality laboratory and analytical services that meet specific customer
requirements at competitive cost.
H) Mandatory Inspections for Local Products
The Zambia Bureau of Standards is mandated under the Standards Act, CAP 416 of 1994, to monitor the quality of products covered by technical regulations. It is a legal requirement and therefore mandatory for domestic manufacturers to obtain a permit to supply these products on the market. The conditions under which the permit is issued can be obtained from the Bureau.
I) QMS ZS ISO 9001:2000
The ZABS Quality Management System mark of conformity denotes that an organisation's quality management system complies with ZS ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System Standard.
J) IQMS
The Import Quality Monitoring Scheme (IQMS) has been running since 2003. The Bureau is able to monitor the quality of goods entering the country through this scheme using SI 41&78 of 2003 and SI 120 of 2006.
ZABS and the Consumer
Part v of the Standards Act CAP 416 of 1994 gives provision to protect the consumer againist defective or dangerous commodities.
Under this part, the Minister is empowerment to prohibit or restrict the use of any commodity found to be dangerous or defective. This is made in the public interest ,public safety and environment .
The commodity so declared so declared as defective or dangerous shall be withdrawn from distribution and recalled by the supplier at the supplier's cost and the affected customer shall be compensated.
ACTIVITIES OF ZABS
A) Standard writing
The ZABS formulates national standards , which serve as minimum requirement in the country. The Zambia Bureau of Standards sets different types of standards, namely, basic standards,product standards,method standards and codes of practice.
B) Standards implementation
ZABS implements standards through product certification scheme whereby good quality products conforming to Zambian standards are given a quality mark which gives the consumers confidence. ZABS also implements standards through Import and Exports inspections.
C) Sale of world Standards
ZABS is selling agent for International Standards(ISO and IEC), Regional standards, and foreign standards from other countries in the world.
D) Information services
The Zabs standards Library has a large collection of international, Regional and foreign standards and Technical regulations. It is also the WTO/TBT inquiry point. The library is also open to members, government departments and learning institutions.
E) Calibration Service
The ZABS Metrology Laboratory houses the National Measurement standards and provides calibration services to link measurements to international measurements system. All measurements are thus traceable to the International Measurement Standards.
F) Training and consultancy
Consultancy services and training is offered in the areas of standardisation, quality control and assurance, quality management systems, measurements technology and front office quality service delivery.
G) ZABS Testing Laboratories
ZABS Testing Laboratories primary objective is to provide high quality laboratory and analytical services that meet specific customer
requirements at competitive cost.
H) Mandatory Inspections for Local Products
The Zambia Bureau of Standards is mandated under the Standards Act, CAP 416 of 1994, to monitor the quality of products covered by technical regulations. It is a legal requirement and therefore mandatory for domestic manufacturers to obtain a permit to supply these products on the market. The conditions under which the permit is issued can be obtained from the Bureau.
I) QMS ZS ISO 9001:2000
The ZABS Quality Management System mark of conformity denotes that an organisation's quality management system complies with ZS ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System Standard.
J) IQMS
The Import Quality Monitoring Scheme (IQMS) has been running since 2003. The Bureau is able to monitor the quality of goods entering the country through this scheme using SI 41&78 of 2003 and SI 120 of 2006.
ZABS and the Consumer
Part v of the Standards Act CAP 416 of 1994 gives provision to protect the consumer againist defective or dangerous commodities.
Under this part, the Minister is empowerment to prohibit or restrict the use of any commodity found to be dangerous or defective. This is made in the public interest ,public safety and environment .
The commodity so declared so declared as defective or dangerous shall be withdrawn from distribution and recalled by the supplier at the supplier's cost and the affected customer shall be compensated.
Menu
News
The Director's Office
More Services
- Online Applications
- Complaint Registration