The Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) has revealed that it is working with National Standards Bodies within the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Region to harmonize standards and conformity assessment procedures, a move that will eliminate discrepancies and ensure that products and services meet consistent requirements thereby reducing technical barriers to trade (TBTs). ZABS Executive Director Nathan Sing’ambwa emphasized the importance of harmonizing and mutually recognizing conformity assessments as such measures would promote trade facilitation. Mr Sing’ambwa made these remarks to Senior Management during his visit to Limestone Resources Limited in Ndola yesterday.

“We have signed MOUs with some neighboring countries in the SADC Region so that once we issue test reports and certify products, these reports and certificates will be accepted without further need for retests or re-assessments. Our role is to support industry, we want to work with industrial sector players and grow industry together. Hence our engagement with you and other stakeholders is to show our commitment to work with you in producing quality and safe products.” Mr. Sing’ambwa said. He disclosed that MoU’s have been signed with South Africa Bureau of Standards, Namibia Standards Institute and the Angola National Institute of Quality Infrastructure while the review of the MoU with Standards Association of Zimbabwe was under review. Mr Sing’ambwa said the MOU with Malawi and Mozambique under the NACALA Corridor Project had equally reached an advanced stage.

Meanwhile, the Bureau has disclosed that the standards for agriculture lime and that for industrial and domestic lime have been revised and aligned to international best practices and that upon recommendation, will be declared compulsory. The revision was necessitated to harmonise with the specifications that are prevailing within the region. The revision of the standard will promote consistency and reduce the need for retests while improving the quality and safety of the product.