Harare, (New Ziana) – In a move aimed at bolstering consumer protection and enhancing the integrity of imported goods, the Government has expanded the Consignment Based Conformity Assessment (CBCA) Programme by engaging two additional service providers, effective 1 August 2025.
This brings the total number of authorized entities under the programme to six. Announcing the development, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in a statement on Wednesday said: “The Ministry of Industry and Commerce wishes to inform importers, clearing agents, and the public that, effective 1 August 2025, two (2) additional service providers have been engaged to conduct the Consignment Based Conformity Assessment (CBCA) Programme, bringing the total number of service providers to six (6).”
The two newly contracted companies—Standards Association of Zimbabwe and World Standardisation Certification & Testing Group Company Limited—join existing partners Bureau Veritas Company Limited, Cotecna Inspection SA, EAA Company Limited, and Intertek International Limited.
The CBCA is a pre-shipment verification programme introduced in 2015 by the Government to prevent the entry of substandard, counterfeit, and potentially dangerous goods into the country.
It mandates that goods shipped to Zimbabwe be inspected and certified in the country of export before dispatch. According to the Ministry, this expansion is designed to improve convenience and capacity on service delivery as trade volumes increase and as the Second Republic intensifies efforts to ensure that imported goods align with internationally accepted quality and safety standards.
The CBCA Programme plays a vital role in enforcing compliance with local technical regulations and standards. Goods that fail to meet the required benchmarks are denied entry, safeguarding consumers and local businesses from economic and safety risks.
“The CBCA Programme remains a critical component of the Second Republic’s ongoing efforts to ensure that the quality and condition of imported goods meet world class standards,” reads the statement. Importers and clearing agents are being encouraged to liaise with any of the six accredited service providers for pre-shipment verification.
New Ziana
