BOBS, the Botswana Bureau of Standards

What is the BOBS ?

The Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) is Botswana’s national body dedicated to developing and promoting quality standards. Created in 1995 by Botswana Law No. 16, it operates under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism.

BOBS offers a range of services including compliance certifications, inspection, training and consulting. These services are aimed at businesses and consumers wishing to ensure that their products and services comply with national and international standards. For this, it has an accredited laboratory capable of performing tests in accordance with current standards. In addition, BOBS plays an active role in the development of regional and international standards, working closely with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

With the vision of becoming a global leader in providing quality solutions, BOBS’s mission is to facilitate trade, protect the health and safety of consumers, while contributing to Botswana’s economic and social development. It is based on the values of excellence, integrity, innovation, professionalism and commitment to customer service.

Why did you create BOBS ?

BOBS was founded to meet Botswana’s specific standards and quality requirements. As a developing country, Botswana faces international competition and must meet regional and global market standards. It is also essential for the country to preserve its natural resources, rich biodiversity and environment.

It aims to promote Botswana’s economic and social development by facilitating trade, improving the competitiveness of local products and services, and ensuring consumer protection, public health and the environment.

The Botswana Bureau of Standards serves in the harmonization of standards at regional and international levels, thereby helping to minimize technical barriers to trade and more effectively integrate Botswana into the global economy. It works closely with regional standards organizations such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Organisation for Standardization (ARSO)and with international entities such as ISO and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). As a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), BOBS adheres to the principles of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT).

What are the existing BOBS standards and are they mandatory ?

BOBS develops and publishes national standards in various sectors, including agriculture, food, environment, construction, energy, health, safety and services. These standards, based on international best practices, are designed to meet Botswana’s specific needs.

Voluntary and mandatory standards

There are two categories of standards at BOBS : voluntary and mandatory. Voluntary standards, although not required by law, are recommended to ensure the quality, performance, compatibility and efficiency of products and services.

Mandatory standards, on the other hand, are those imposed by legislation, often to protect consumers, public health, safety or the environment.

The mandatory standards of the BOBS

To date, the Botswana Bureau of Standards has established more than 1,000 national standards, nearly 200 of which are mandatory in nature. The latter mainly cover :

• Food and beverages products
• Cosmetics and hygiene products
• Electrical and electronic products
• Chemical and petroleum products
• Textile and clothing products
• Metal and mechanical products
• Plastic and rubber products
• Wood and paper products
• Glass and ceramic products
• Leather and skin products
• Plant and animal products
• Pharmaceutical and medical products
• Construction and civil engineering products

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To determine if a product is subject to a mandatory standard, it is necessary to consult the official Standards and Compulsory Standards Regulations (SCSR), which lists all the mandatory BOBS standards.

Which products need to be certified by a BOBS standard ?

BOBS certification attests to the quality and conformity of products, a criterion often required by customers, authorities or markets. In Botswana, certain products must be certified according to the Botswana Bureau of Standards to be marketed or used. Others, on the other hand, may choose to voluntarily certify to differentiate themselves from the competition or enter new markets.

Products subject to compulsory certification

The products that must be certified are those covered by a BOBS standard made mandatory by legislation, with the aim of protecting consumers, public health, safety or the environment. Prior to importation, manufacture, sale or use in Botswana, these products must obtain BOBS certification. The BOBS grants them a certificate of conformity and grants them a specific marking, the Batch Mark, which proves their compliance with the required standards.

Products subject to voluntary certification

Some products, although not subject to mandatory standards, may obtain voluntary BOBS certification. This certification, based on voluntary standards, aims to guarantee the quality, performance, compatibility and efficiency of products. It is available on request from manufacturers, importers, distributors or users wishing to enhance the quality of their products and stand out. For these products, the BOBS also issues a certificate of conformity and a distinctive marking, the Mark Standards, confirming their compliance with voluntary standards.

Which BOBS certification program to choose ? Are there several ?

BOBS offers various certification programs adapted to different products, standards and markets. Their goal is to simplify trade, increase competitiveness and strengthen consumer confidence.

The three main certification programs offered by BOBS are :

Programme de certification par lot (Batch Certification Scheme)

This program applies to products that must meet a mandatory standard imposed by the BOBS for reasons of consumer protection, public health, safety or the environment. It certifies each batch of products imported or manufactured in Botswana, through laboratory testing and on-site inspections.

Following this process, the Botswana Bureau of Standards issues a certificate of conformity and marks the certified products with a specific acronym, the Batch Mark.

Standards Mark Certification Scheme

This program is intended for products that meet a voluntary standard of the BOBS, that is, a standard not mandatory, but recommended to guarantee the quality, performance and effectiveness of the products. Certification is based on a quality management system implemented by the manufacturer or importer, ensuring continued compliance with the criteria of the voluntary standard.

The BOBS then issues a certificate of conformity and affixes on the certified products a specific marking, named Standards Mark.

The Pre-Boarding Conformity Assessment Certification Program (Botswana CBCA Program)

This programme targets products imported into Botswana subject to a mandatory Botswana Bureau of Standards standard, from countries without BOBS representation or mutual recognition agreement. It involves an assessment of the conformity of products before export, carried out by an inspection body accredited by the BOBS, such as Bureau Veritas.

The BOBS issues a certificate of conformity assessment for Botswana before embarkation, the CBCA Certificate, necessary for the customs clearance of products upon arrival in Botswana.

What are the essential criteria for obtaining one of the BOBS standards ?

To earn a standard from the Botswana Bureau of Standards, it is necessary to meet the quality and compliance criteria specific to the standard applicable to your product or service. These criteria vary depending on the standard in question, the type of product and the target market. Nevertheless, some criteria are universal to all BOBS certification programs:

Criteria for the product or service

The product or service must comply with the technical requirements and specifications of the selected standard, whether mandatory or optional. These requirements include the composition, performance, safety, durability, efficiency, hygiene, and environmental impact of the product or service. The BOBS ensures compliance through methods such as laboratory testing, on-site inspections, audits, or documentary evaluations, depending on the certification program adopted.

Criteria for the quality management system

The manufacturer or importer must put in place a quality management system that guarantees the control and constant improvement of the quality and conformity of the product or service. This system must be in accordance with the BOS ISO 9001 standard, internationally recognized for quality management systems.

The Botswana Bureau of Standards evaluates this quality management system through periodic audits, based on the selected certification program.

Documentation and traceability criteria

Complete and reliable documentation, attesting to the conformity of the product or service to the chosen standard, must be maintained by the manufacturer or importer. This documentation includes test results, inspection reports, certificates of conformity, datasheets, labels, leaflets, etc. In addition, the manufacturer or importer must ensure the traceability of the product or service, to trace its origin, manufacture, distribution and use.

The BOBS verifies documentation and traceability through documentary checks and on-site visits, following the chosen certification programme.