To assure Tanzanian consumers of the safety and quality of imported goods they buy, and to protect Tanzanian manufacturers from unfair competition, the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), a statutory organization of the government of Tanzania , implemented guidelines called the Pre-Shipment Verification of Conformity (PVoC) to Standards Programme.
Intertek Government and Trade Services are accredited by TBS to provide certification services in support of its Pre-Shipment Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme.
TBS Responsibilities
TBS is responsible for the adoption and application of the standards for both imported and domestically manufactured products in the Tanzanian market. The PVoC Standards Programme is a conformity assessment and verification procedure applied to specific Goods/Products at the respective exporting countries, to ensure their compliance with the applicable Tanzanian Technical Regulations and Mandatory Standards or approved equivalents.
The primary objective of applying Pre-Shipment Verification of Conformity (PVoC) Programme is:
- Ensure quality of products, health and safety
- Protect the environment for Tanzanians
- Meet the requirements of the PVoC
All consignments subject to PVoC must obtain a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) issued by an authorized PVoC Agent, such as Intertek, prior to shipment. The CoC is a mandatory document for Customs Clearance in Tanzania; consignments arriving at Tanzanian Ports without this document will be denied entry into the country.
The key elements undertaken in the PVoC are:
- Physical inspection prior to shipment
- Sampling, testing and analysis in accredited laboratories
- Quality Audit of production processes
- Documentary review of conformity with regulations
- Issuance of Certificate of Conformity (CoC) or Non-Conformity Report (NCR) as appropriate.
Responsibilities of:
Importers
Ensure their suppliers are conversant with import quality requirements and that their consignments are accompanied by a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) from the authorized PVoC Agent.
Exporters
Ensure their products or goods meet the regulations and quality requirements of Tanzania before shipment by obtaining the necessary Certificate of Conformity (CoC) from the authorized PVoC Service Provider for all products subject to the PVoC programme. Failure to do so will result in a penalty of 15% CIF value and a destination inspection being applied. Consignments that do not meet the standards of the PVoC will either be re-exported to the country of origin or destroyed at the exporter's cost.
TBS
Ensures that only quality goods gain entry into the country, thereby offering the necessary protection to Tanzania's consumers in safety, health and environmental matters.
- Routes of Certification
- Route A - Occasional Exports
- No product registration
- Product Testing and Shipment Inspection
- Issuance of CoC
- Route B - Frequent Exporters
- Product Registration
- Shipment Inspection and random Product testing
- Issuance of CoC
- Route C - Frequent Exporters and High-Volume Manufacturers
- Product licensing
- Licence review and random Product testing
- Issuance of CoC
- Intertek can provide a tailor-made service that meets your particular needs, including:
- Submission of assessment requests online
- Automated e-mails for the status of certificates
- Flexible certificate delivery solutions for high-volume users
Further details on how to obtain the mandatory Certificate of Conformity for Exports to Tanzania can be found in our exporter and importer guidelines.
PVoC is a Conformity Assessment procedure applied in the Country of Supply to ensure compliance of imported products with applicable Tanzanian Standards, approved specifications or applicable regulations. Products meeting the requirements of the relevant Tanzanian Standards or approved specifications will be issued with a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) as proof of compliance by TBS-appointed PVoC Service Providers such as Intertek.
International Trade Conformity Certification
Exporters, importers, and traders wishing to place products in the markets in which programmes are in place must have the necessary certification to clear Customs. This overview will explain the basics of what you need to know.
Exports to East and West Africa
Learn about the process of obtaining mandatory Certificates of Conformity for exports to East and West African countries with Conformity Assessment Programmes and how Intertek can assist.
Document Request Forms
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