THE Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) has urged importers of cosmetics products to observe quality standards and shield consumers from counterfeits.

Mariam Maarufu, TBS quality control officer, made the call here on Tuesday when speaking to traders who visited the bureau’s booth during the just-ended Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA) exhibition which was part of commemorating the World Health and Safety at Work Day.

She urged traders to import cosmetics that are registered with TBS and they should go through the list of cosmetics that are not allowed to enter the country and those that are allowed.

“Importers should be well equipped with enough information on goods that are allowed to get into Tanzania and those that are prohibited. The knowledge enables them to avoid losses because when they import banned cosmetics, they face action according to the law, including returning the products to where they come from or destroying them at their own expenses,” she said.

She said that the exhibition has been an important opportunity for the organization to meet various stakeholders and explain to them the responsibilities performed by TBS. 

Some of the interviewed traders expressed their satisfaction with the education they got from TBS staff that changed their perceptions on goods importation and procedures that need to be followed.

They said that they were educated about the procedures to follow to certify quality of products they produce so that they can get TBS quality logo. 

Asha Abdallah, one of the traders who visited the bureau's pavilion said: “I can now certify quality of products I produce, taking into account that the service is provided free of charge to people like me.”

Some of the people who visited the exhibition said that through the education they received, they will pay more attention to checking expiration date of product they want to buy since they understood that expired products are dangerous to health.

"The presence of TBS at the exhibition has been an important opportunity for us; many people buy products without checking the expiration date written on the packaging but from now on I will be a good ambassador," said Paul Edward.