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Business Editor
THE government has further deferred the implementation of the Consignment Based Conformity Assessment (CBCA) on imported products to January 2016 while it finalises gazetting of the Statutory Instrument supporting the exercise.
The programme was scheduled to start on November 1, 2015, after the initial May and August deadlines were put on hold following reservations from the business community.
“The programme is now going to start on January 1, 2016. We’ve extended the implementation transition period to December 31, 2015,” a top official from the Ministry of Industry said on condition of anonymity.
The official said the registration process, which began in July this year, will be allowed to continue until end of the year.
In the meantime, the official said the government was “finalising the gazetting of the Statutory Instrument” supporting the programme.
A French international firm, Bureau Veritas, has been contracted to spearhead the process which is meant to curb the influx of cheap substandard products into the country as part of measures to enhance domestic industry competitiveness and consumption of healthy products.
Importers had argued the programme would inflate their costs on goods and consequently burden the already distressed consumers.
Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Chiratidzo Mabuwa is on record as saying the programme implementation delay was due to the results of consultative processes that were conducted by the ministry.
She said the process unravelled issues that needed to be addressed first.
“Having addressed those issues that were raised, we also sent our cleaned up version of how the operations will take place through to Cabinet, which has since been approved,” said Mabuwa.
She said the reservations raised were mainly related to the cost of the services that will ultimately be borne by the importers and local firms, have been rectified.
“We’ve revisited these and consulted with Bureau Veritas. The costs have been matched with other receiving countries that have contracted Bureau Veritas in the region,” said Mabuwa.
“We’ve also attempted to address all the issues, but what will ultimately happen is that, at the end of the day, the country will not be used as a dumping ground for inferior products.
“That’s the benefit that we’re going to take and I imagine we’re all on board now.”
The four-year lifespan of the programme would also serve as a training platform to acquire and localise global best practice on acceptable standards ahead of the establishment of the National Standards Regulatory Authority.
Principles of the bill for the legally empowered national standards watchdog have already been approved by Cabinet and on completion of its set up transition are expected to be smooth and seamless riding on experience gained from Bureau Veritas.
Bureau Veritas operates in more than 150 countries and boasts of vast experience in pre-shipment services.
Online Reporter