The Imports Quality Monitoring Scheme (IQMS) was established in 1993 with the objective of protecting the public/consumer in ensuring that imported products are monitored for fitness of use (quality) and that they do not cause safety or health hazards to humans, animals or damage the environment and in turn provide a level playing field for similar products made in Malawi.  The scheme also safeguards the national economy and prevents Malawi from becoming a dumping ground for substandard products.  Import batch certificates are issued to complying consignments and non-complying consignments are denied entry based on critical nature of the non-conformity.