By EABW Correspondent,

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - In a move to help local manufacturers improve the quality of packaging, the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) has introduced a Packaging Technology Centre (PTC) which will curb poor production.

The progress comes after recent moves by the heads of states of the East African region who signed the common market charter, a deal which will allow the movement of goods and services around the region.

Speaking to East African Business Week in Dar es Salaam last week, TBS’ Managing Director, Mr. Charles Ekelege has challenged businesses to fully utilize the opportunity.

Mr. Ekelege urged manufacturers, especially those dealing with packaging to use the centre in order to make their products competitive in the market.

One of the challenges facing our local manufacturers is poor packaging, therefore because of this technology their products should be able to compete with others in any market,” said Mr. Ekelege

He further added that, packaging has an influence on the cost and efficient movement of goods, adding value, minimizing damage and presenting the goods to the next stage of the supply chain in a convenient and acceptable condition.

TBS Chief added that the packaging expertise can now be obtained from the centre which is situated at the TBS headquarters’ in Dar es Salaam.

He said, “I challenge the manufactures and packaging industry to use the business development services, namely services related to entrepreneurship, marketing, technology development, business training, testing, design and knowledge – all readily available at the PTC.”

According to Mr. Ekelege, the centre has well developed state-of-the-art equipment and skilled staff to run the packaging technology including quality control.

He added that the centre will promulgate packaging standards, provide training in graphic and structural design of packages to the industry and SMEs, test packages and provide information on packaging standards.

“Lack of quality on packages has hindered Tanzania’s efforts to have an impact in international trade.” He said. “The establishment of the PTC is a great opportunity for local industries to sharpen their competitive edge.”

In another development, in a bid to get rid of substandard products in the local market, the Bureau has inspected about 320 small and medium industries in the country.

The inspection exercise was carried out in 14 regions countrywide between February and November in 2009. “During the inspection, TBS officials were educating the SMEs on the importance of quality products in the market,” said Ekelege



“The inspection team is now visiting some industries in Morogoro Region. After completion, the team will move to other regions.” He noted



TBS, which is the statutory National Standards Body is established by the Standards Act no 3 of 1975 and was re-established by a new Standards Act no 2 of 2009 with the aim of giving it more powers and also to align it with best international practices.



The Standards Act empowers TBS to develop national standards, to control quality of a wide range of commodities, to provide testing and metrology services, to develop and run certification schemes and act as a custodian of the national measurement standards in Tanzania.


The bureau was established as apart of the efforts by the government to strengthen the supporting institutional infrastructure for the industry and commerce sectors of the economy. 


TBS operates under the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Marketing. The government body of TBS is the Executive Council whose chairperson is appointed by the President of Tanzania.