TBS | Pre-shipment Verification of Conformity (PVoC)

The Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) implements product conformity assessment for the control of certain categories of imported consumer goods.

Pre-shipment Verification of Conformity (PVoC)

Pre-shipment Verification of Conformity (PVoC) is a conformity assessment procedure used to verify that products to be imported into Tanzania are in conformity with applicable national standards before shipment. It is conformity assessment and verification procedure to specific goods at exporting countries. It is provided for by section 4(1) (s) of the Standards Act No. 2 of 2009.

Before shipping to Tanzania all consignments subject to PVoC must obtain the mandatory custom clearance documents and certificate of conformity (CoC) without which the commodities arriving at Tanzanian Ports will be rejected or fined.

The PVoC is carried out by authorized third-party agencies, consisting of physical inspection with combination of laboratory testing, documentary review and factory audits, where necessary.

Key Benefits

- Protects consumers’ health, safety and security.
- Blocks unfair competition from substandard imports.
- Facilitates customs clearance.
- Eliminates destruction or re-exporting costs for substandard goods.
- Prevents Tanzania from being a dumping ground for substandard goods.