BOBS tightens imports pre-shipment inspection
Isaac Pinielo | Friday January 27, 2017 15:23
This was done to minimise the risk of unsafe and substandard products entering the country.
As part of this move, the standards watchdog stopped accepting letters of authority and certificates of conformity from importers issued by National Regulators for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS).
NCRS letters and certificates are documents issued by NRCS to importers that import regulated products.
Speaking to BusinessWeek this week, BOBS public relations officer, Kagisano Makonyela said the bureau does not have any recognition agreement with NRCS hence it does not accept or recognise the NCRS letters of authority and certificate of conformity.
“However, in the past BOBS accepted these documents from NRCS mainly through memorandum of understanding between BOBS and the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) as NRCS was initially part of the SABS,” she said.
Makonyela further pointed out that the bureau has been accepting these documents from NRCS since the inception of the Standards (Import Inspection) Regulations (SIIR) in 2009, up until when the scheme was reviewed last year.
After the review, organisations that are recognised by BOBS to undertake SIIR product conformity assessment activities include SABS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek Group PLC, Namibian Standards Institution (NSI), Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ), China Certification & Inspection Group (CCIC) Co. Ltd, and TUV Rheinland Aktiengesellschaft (AG) Am Grauen Stein, 51105 – Cologne Germany.
In addition, there are recognised testing laboratories that include include Aspirata Auditing Testing & Certification Microbiological Testing of Food Products, Novida Testing Services, Central Analytical Laboratories, and Perishable Products Control Board all in South Africa.
Makonyela said for a company to be officially recognised by BOBS to conduct product conformity assessment, it should be registered, should be able to demonstrate competence through relevant accreditation, demonstrate financial stability and also be equipped with relevant experience on product conformity assessment.
She said BOBS has taken a decision to review and implement the recognition scheme for the SIIR of 2008 that has been in place since 2009.
“The recognition scheme was last reviewed in 2016, it prescribes that all SIIR listed products imported into Botswana shall be inspected by BOBS or an inspection or testing body recognised by BOBS, as per regulation 4(2) of the SIIR,” she said. She noted that any product or commodity covered on the scope of SIIR shall be sampled, tested and inspected in the country of origin so as to minimise the risk of unsafe and substandard products entering Botswana market.
“Upon arrival on the market BOBS also conduct independent sampling, testing and inspection on the SIIR prescribed products to ensure total compliance,” Makonyela said.