26 Aug 2018

 The utilisation of Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) will ensure the quality of products and services which will improve and enhance the quality of lives of Batswana, says Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Ms Bogolo Kenewendo.

 She urged all businesses irrespective of size to embrace and utilise services offered by BOBS. 

 She noted that the standards included calibration of equipment used in production, verification and inspection of instruments used in trade, product testing, training on standards as well as certification of products and services.

Speaking at the BOBS technical committees members’ appreciation, Ms Kenewendo said utilisation of standards would ensure the quality of products and services which would subsequently improve and enhance the quality of lives of Batswana.

Minister Kenewendo said in recognition of the quest to enhance service delivery to citizens, her ministry had identified three apexes. She said one of them was SMME development after recognising the ripple effects of SMMEs in the life of ordinary citizens and its multiplier effect to the rest of the economy. 

“The work of BOBS is relevant and will contribute a lot to the success of this apex as it is one of the main focus areas,” she said. She also emphasised that an effective national quality infrastructure and technical regulatory frameworks were essential as they provided crucial links to global trade, market access and export competitiveness.

   “This is made possible through their contribution to consumer confidence in product safety, quality, health and environment, hence a credible quality infrastructure and regulatory environment of which standards are an integral part are important pillars for industrial development,” she said. The minister applauded the management of BOBS to have found it fit to celebrate the work of the standards development technical committees who had worked tirelessly and contributed immensely to the work of BOBS.

 She said it was through their commitment and dedication that since its inception BOBS had made  progress in the development of standards. She noted that more than 1 700 Botswana standards had been published through 48 technical committees across various sectors of the economy and that 109 certification licenses had been issued against some of the standards.

Ms Kenewendo further said 12 677 people had been trained on quality, environmental, laboratory and occupational health and safety management systems standards from industry, central and local government, parastatals and the public. She added that 46 Botswana Standards were being implemented through the import inspection  regulations with a view to protect the health and safety of consumers as well as protection of the environment.

She said for BOBS to remain relevant they needed to continuously undertake research to develop new ideas and technologies, adding that she was aware that they contributed to regional and international standards as they were instrumental in the work of organisations such as the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), the International Electro Technical Commission (IEC) and the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) as well as Southern African Development Cooperation in Standardisation (SADCSTAN).   ENDS