The Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) is a statutory organization established in 1972 by an Act of Parliament, Cap 51:02 (Revised 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 MBS is in the process of preparing a three-year National Standardization Strategy (NSS) for the period 2024 – 2026. An NSS is a document that details standardization projects (standards) that are to be developed within a specified period of time. It is the MBS policy to develop Malawi standards that are market relevant, and those that are needed by all stakeholders (Government, Private Sector and Consumers).
We are therefore calling on all stakeholders to take part in this process by submitting standardization projects or areas that they would want the MBS to facilitate the development or revision of Malawi Standards.
Special request goes to the following categories of stakeholders:
- Government
A Government Ministry, Department or Agency (MDA) may, for example, be responsible for the health and safety of citizens and for protecting the environment. The MDA may as well be responsible for the proper functioning of the economy, job creation and the general welfare of the population. The MDA could further be responsible for providing services to the public such as electricity, water and sewerage, dams, natural reserves and others. The MDA may also be a regulatory body, and standards could be one of the tools for effective enforcement of the regulations. In all these cases, the country may require standards for the materials and supplies bought and for the activities and the services provided by these entities.
- Academicians and Professionals
We wish to remind you that standards represent the proven results of technological research and development. Thus, knowledge of standards equals to knowledge of the state of the art and recognized best practice in a given field. Professionals and academicians that uses standards are well informed about new trends and can apply them in their practice and educational activity. Such professionals and academicians have an edge over others who are not informed about standards. Standards are also used as reference documents in education, academic research and consultancies. In view of this, the country may require standards to address challenges faced by academicians and professionals hence your contribution to the areas where the MBS need to priotise in the development of standards is of paramount importance.
- Consumers
Products conforming to standards are safe, have good quality, longer life and carry adequate information to guide the buyer. Buying quality products ensures compatibility with other products and the availability of spare parts that prolong the useful life of the product. Standards are a necessary tool to protect consumers – they represent an accepted reference all parties have committed to respect. Standards represent an ideal basis for technical regulations and the requirements they contain are often adopted by regulators. In this regard your contribution to urgent areas/sectors where the MBS need to priotise in the development of standards is of paramount importance.
- Non-Governmental Organizations, Business Sector Organizations, and Financial Institutions
The success of any business is directly linked to the quality of their products and their conformity to buyers’ and regulatory requirements, based mainly on standards. Non-compliance with standards can lead to loss of life and damage to property which could be reflected in financial losses and insurance claims for the company and its partners. Compliance with environmental standards and implementation of environmental management systems can help preserve the natural environment. In this regard your contribution to urgent areas/sectors where the MBS need to priotise in the development of standards is of paramount importance.
If, therefore, you have areas that you require Malawi standards to be developed, please submit your proposals to Mr Justin Onani on justinonani@mbsmw.org. You can submit your proposals using a form that is available on our website (www.mbsmw.org) or you can request it from Mr Onani by e-mail. For a list of existing Malawi standards, please refer to the Catalogue of Malawi Standards that is available on our website.
Director General
Malawi Bureau of Standards
P O Box 946
BLANTYRE
Tel: 01 870 488
Fax: 01 870 756
Email: mbs@mbsmw.org
Website: www.mbsmw.org