19 Aug 2026

There are 80 leather industry standards that Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) has developed, which cover blue and processed hides and skins from bovine animals, sheep, goats and buffalo, as well as leather products such as belts and bags. 

Answering a question in Parliament on Tuesday, the Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Mr Tiroeaone Ntsima revealed that BOBS was in the process of developing a wood saw dust standard specification for the product, following a request from a timber manufacturing and processing company to develop a standard for poultry bedding, which was primarily composed of wood sawdust. 

“The company indicated that it intends to supply customers who require the product to be certified against a recognised standard. 

The development of this standard will follow the fast-tracked method and will take approximately three months,” he said. 

Additionally, he indicated that BOBS was implementing three key strategic initiatives to assist emerging local manufacturers. 

To that effect, he said BOBS was implementing the standards development and awareness, which entailed developing demand-driven standards that were aligned with local manufacturing needs and government priorities. He noted that there were also streamlined certification pathways to complement its product certification scheme, citing that BOBS had established a batch certification scheme. This, he said simplified certification processes, reduced turn-around times and paved a faster route for market entry. 

Mr Ntsima further indicated that the Small and Medium Enterprises Support Framework was in place to monitor specialised Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Certification Framework aimed at accelerating compliance and lowering certification costs was under formulation. “The framework seeks to cultivate an environment that empowers emerging local manufacturers and MSMEs, enabling them to expand their market reach and scale their businesses sustainably,” he said. 

Minister Ntsima was responding to a question by Tswapong South MP, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang who had asked the minister if he was aware of the challenges experienced by emerging local manufacturers in respect of the services offered by BOBS and whether there were standards for sawdust and leather products. ENDS