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 wishes to remind the public, local manufacturers, importers, and distributers of galvanized iron sheets that the use of the non-metric measurement unit Gauges “G” to classify iron sheets thickness was replaced with the metric measurement unit Millimeters “mm”. This is reflected in the mandatory Malawi standard (MS) 509:2010 Galvanized Iron Sheets-Specification. The MBS, however, has noted that some traders are still marking and selling iron sheets using the non-metric measuring system (gauge) i.e. 26 G, 28 G, and 30 G etc. contrary to MS 509: 2010 which requires marking of thickness in Millimeters.
The public and traders of iron sheets are being informed that the gauge system was repealed from MS 509 to enable the Malawi standard align with the international best practice in marking of thickness through the use of the metric measurement unit. This system of measurement provides the consumers with clear information on the actual thickness of the iron sheets at the point of purchase. The standard further requires indication of the actual thickness of the sheets in metric units on any purchase documentation issued to the customers.
In view of the foregoing, the MBS hereby warns all iron sheets manufacturers and importers in Malawi against the aforementioned practice and hereby issue an order to immediately stop this practice and further begin recalling from the market any galvanized iron sheets marked in gauges by 20th January 2025. All manufacturers, importers and distributers are expected to supply galvanized iron sheets appropriately marked with specific thicknesses in millimeters only. In accordance with provisions of the MBS Act (Cap 51:02), the MBS shall commence confiscating such non-compliant products from the market at the manufacturers’ own cost should they fail to cooperate with this order by the set deadline. We, therefore, expect the utmost cooperation from all concerned companies on this matter.
The MBS would like to assure the general public that we are currently continuing with the conformity assessments to ensure that all iron sheets are marked with the appropriate thickness in Millimeters and that the declared thickness conforms to the specifications provided in MS 509:2010. The MBS shall take appropriate action on both manufacturers, importers, and distributers of iron sheets across the country for the failure to comply with the requirements provided in the MBS Act (Cap 51:02) and related MBS Regulations. The MBS, therefore, would like to appeal to the public to continue reporting to the Bureau on its Toll-free number 462 on both Malawi Telecommunication Network (TNM) and Airtel Malawi lines if they encounter any suspected substandard products on the market.
The Director General