Standards Development
The Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) facilitates the development of standards for the different sectors of the economy in Zambia.
The Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) facilitates the development of standards for the different sectors of the economy in Zambia. These Standards are developed to help the industry produce quality products that meet the expectations of the consumers and complies with the health, safety, and environmental regulations.
ZABS has developed standards in various sectors which include Food and Agriculture, Building and Construction, Information Communication Technology, Chemicals and Health, Electro technical, Textiles, Timber and Timber products, among others.
Under the Standards Development section, ZABS develops, publishes, maintains, or withdraws Zambian National Standards and related normative publications serving the standardization needs for Zambia. The standards development section has two major functions including the development of standards through technical committees and information dissemination on standardization through the Documentation and Information Centre (DIC).
Zambian National Standards across sectors
Industry sector coverage
Industry experts
Adopted as ZS
Draft standards currently uploaded for stakeholder access and review.
Explore Standards Development
Understand what standards are, how they are developed, and why they matter to industry, consumers, and trade.
What is a Standard?
A Standard is a technical document detailing the requirements necessary to ensure that a material, product, service, or procedure is fit for the purpose it was intended. These requirements could include design, material, performance, manufacturing and testing requirements, including packaging and labeling.
In addition to these core requirements, standards often reflect the best practices established by industry experts, promoting consistency, safety, and efficiency. They help to ensure interoperability between products and services and are frequently updated to incorporate new technological advancements and market needs. Standards play a critical role in facilitating international trade by establishing common benchmarks, helping businesses meet regulatory requirements, and enhancing consumer confidence by assuring quality and reliability across a wide range of industries.
Attached Standard Preview
This preview uses the supplied standards document so the section shows an actual standard in the intended position.
The standards development section has two major functions including the development of standards through technical committees and information dissemination on standardization through the Documentation and Information Centre (DIC).
ZABS Testing Laboratories Overview
This overview provides a visual introduction to the laboratory testing environment and the testing services delivered by ZABS.
Documentation and Information Center (DIC)
The Documentation and Information Center (DIC) holds a collection of national and International standards, technical regulations, technical books and journals. The DIC offers the following services:
- Sale of Zambian, International and Foreign Standards.
- Information on technical specifications to manufacturers and traders.
- Information relating to National and International Standards.
- Information to exporters on technical regulations of importing countries.
- Information on Zambian certified products and services.
- National enquiry point (NEP) for Technical Barriers to Trade (WTO/TBT) information.
Draft Standards for Public Comment
Stakeholders can now access draft standards for public comment, download the supporting files, and use the official public enquiry comments form for submissions.
Contact the Standards Team
For support on standards development, public comment, and standards access, contact: