Dr Abdallah Kigoda

The government has introduced a new system of inspecting goods at points of origin before shipment to Tanzania, aimed at combating counterfeit products.

 Minister Dr Abdallah Kigoda, tabling the estimates for the Ministry of Trade and Industries in Parliament yesterday, said the implementation of the new system started in February this year.

 He said three companies have won a competitive international tender to carry out the duties under the system known as Pre-Shipment Verification of Conformity to Standards – PvoC

They are M/S Intertek International Ltd  of UK, M/S Bureau Veritas Inspection, Valuation and Control( BIVAC) of France and M/S SGS Societe Generale de Surveillance S.A of Switzerland.

 The arrangement has considerably reduced cases of importation of sub-standard or fake products into the local market, the minister said.

 On vehicle inspection, Kigoda said the government has strengthened the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), which has now dropped several companies that were once carrying out vehicle inspection.

 The dropped companies include WTM Utility Services of UK and Jaffar Mohammed Gerage of United Arab Emirates (UAE), left out over their violation of vehicle inspection procedures and lack of vehicle inspection equipment.

 A few months ago the government formed a task force consisting of persons from public parastatal organisations and private sector to advise government on the best ways to inspect goods including vehicles, Kigoda added.

 According to the minister, last Friday the task force submitted a report, which recommends the process of acquiring new vehicle inspection firms be initiated afresh in accordance with the Public Procurement Act, 2004.

 The report wants public views gathered from stakeholders considering the possibility to inspect vehicles within or outside the country or both.

 According to the minister, the National Institute of Transport (NIT) and Vocational Education Training Authority (VETA) have shown interest to conduct vehicle inspection within Tanzania.

 A total of Sh170.199 billion has been allocated to the ministry of Trade and Industries in 2012/13 financial year, out of which Sh38.819 billion is for recurrent expenditure and Sh131.380 billion for development expenditure.