DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA – The Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) has started a crackdown to get rid of substandard products in the local market. 

“We will work together with local government authorities to get rid of these products, it should be noted that used tyres have been cited as among factors causing motor accidents in the country. Even new tyres have expiry date of eight years even if they have not been used,” Joseph Masikitiko,  the TBS Director General said last week. The present crackdown includes targeting local and foreign shipments before they reach the market. According to TBS, the shipments targeted comprise petroleum and their products that are shipped into the country and that defaulters may be subjected to a fine of Tsh.50 million ($22,727) or face a three-year jail term.

Masikitiko said the watchdog recently rejected 38,000 metric tonnes of gasoline which did not meet the required local quality standards. “The tanker from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) owned by MT Ridgebury John B Company was prohibited from offloading the disputed petrol after arriving at the Dar es Salaam port,” Masikitiko said. He said the lab inspection results showed that the cargo had three unacceptable chemical elements namely; Oxygenates, Research Octane Number (RON) and Benzene which cause damage and also inefficiency to engines and also pose health risks to humans and the environment.

Masikitiko said the company was directed to ship the consignments back to its port of origin at their own cost as the consignment failed to meet both Tanzania TZS: 672:2102 and East African Community (EAC) namely EAS158:2012 standards. Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) dismissed fears over possible shortage of fuel in the country following rejection of the disputed gasoline. EWURA Director General Felix Ngamlagosi said the development won’t affect in any way the local fuel supply as the industry had enough reserve of petroleum products.

“We are aware of the shipment being barred by the standards regulator, our consumers have nothing to worry about possible shortage as the industry had ample supply of fuel,” Ngamlagosi said. In another development, Masikitiko said a previous occurrence was a shipment of 16,080 litres of lubricants was sent back to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last month after it failed to meet Tanzania’s quality standards. The consignment had been imported by a local company, HASS Petroleum Tanzania Limited, and the same firm was ordered by the quality watchdog to take back the product to the country of origin at its own cost.

According to Masikitiko, the lubricants were shipped back to the UAE in December 31st 2015. He said this year, TBS is set to strengthen quality control measures through a slogan; ‘get rid of substandard products in the local market’. Masikitiko went on to warn importers of used tyres to remove the products from the market since the country’s standards do not allow the merchandise in the market. He as well warned importers of garments against bringing into the country second – hand underwear, stressing that the government will work with responsible authorities to net them.

Source: The East African Business Week

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