adminThe Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) quality assurance director Mr Sebastian Zuze said the authority would be established through the Compulsory Import and Export Testing Bill.
He said the Bill was presently under scrutiny at the Attorney General’s Office.
“We are moving towards regional integration and in order for our companies to remain competitive due to the implications of regional integration they need to maintain standards in their operations.
“Local companies involved in importing and exporting will also be required to comply with standards as we move towards regional integration,” he said.
“Standards entail conformation to quality, price and safety of a product or service,” he said, adding that standards also promoted continuity of industrial operations.
He said the setting up of the regulatory authority would not lead to the disbandment of the Standards Association of Zimbabwe.
“SAZ will remain in place even if the National Quality Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe is established.
“SAZ will continue to play its role in certifying companies for standards while the regulatory authority will enforce companies to maintain standards.
“Where companies are found not complying they will be shut down by the regulatory authority,” he said
He said the operationalisation of the National Quality Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe would result in reducing the influx of cheap and sub-standard imported goods in Zimbabwe.
Presently, the country does not have a provision for vetting the quality of imported goods.
The standards association’s major objective is giving support to local industry on standards through certification.
Of late, stakeholders have expressed concern over the influx of highly subsidised and cheap imports on the domestic market.
The subsidised and cheap imports are mainly from China and those accommodated under the Sadc and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa regimes.
Mr Zuze said the flooding of sub-standard products on the local market threatened the survival of the local industry.
The flooding of imported products has seen Zimbabwe becoming a net importer of goods recording a trade deficit of $3.6 billion in 2012 after importing goods worth $7.48 billion against exports of $3.8 billion.
Diesel, petroleum oils, motor cars and mobile phone handsets were some of the major imports.
Online Reporter