By Chisomo Phiri
The Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) has today awarded a total of 178 certificates of compliance to various local companies for their products and services under the local product certification scheme bringing a total of 1033 certificates.
According to MBS, Out of the 178 certificates being issued in this phase, 75% are new certificates.
The bureau has also awarded 3 management systems certificates in Quality Management System based on ISO 9001:2015 and Food Safety Management System based on ISO 22000:2018.
This means out of the 3 certificates, 2 are new; Rab Processors Ltd-ISO 22000:2018 (Corn soya blend) and Optichem Ltd-ISO 9001:2015 (Fertilizer) while 1 is a renewal Promat Ltd-ISO 9001:2015 (PVC-U & HDPE Pipes, Solvent cement, and trading of PVC Pipe Fittings).
Speaking at one of the certification awards ceremonies in Blantyre, the Board Chairperson of the MBS, Davlin Chokazinga said,It is encouraging to learn that the number of locally certified products and services is increasing.
Chokazinga said this is attributed to the understanding among local companies that their products and services will not be accepted on the market without evidence of conformance to the applicable set of requirements.
This year’s Certification Award functions were held from 7th to 16th March 23 in Blantyre, Lilongwe, and Mzuzu.
The Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) is a statutory organization established in 1972 by an Act of Parliament (Cap 51:02) of the Laws of Malawi (Amended as Act No 14 of 2012), with a mandate to promote metrology, standardization and quality assurance of commodities and of the manufacture, production, processing or treatment thereof; and further to provide for matters incidental to, or connected with standardization.
The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, the MBS Board, which is appointed by Government.
