PRE-EXPORT VERIFICATION OF CONFORMITY TO STANDARDS SYSTEM (PVOC) SCHEME.

Pre-export Verification of Conformity to Standards (PVoC) is a conformity assessment procedure used to verify that products to be imported to the country of destination are in conformity with the applicable national standards or approved international or foreign standards before shipment.

This scheme is for all imported goods except used motor vehicles, product which have been licensed to use ZBS Standard Mark and any products which has Standard mark from any bureau of standards from EAC partner states and wet cargo products (Petroleum Products).

Summarised Procedures for PVoC

1. Inspection Order: Request for Certificate (RFC) A Request for Certification containing details of the intended importation is submitted by the exporter to ZBS service provider (PVoC partner) for each transaction subject to the PVoC programme.
2. The service provider in the region of supply sends a notice to the exporter requesting when/where the goods will be ready for inspection with the following information:
• Technical details of the products,
• Available conformity documentary evidence, such as:
1. Third party Certificate of Conformity to relevant standards (Zanzibar or International standards)
2. Third party Test reports.

3. Documentary Check: The service provider evaluates all the information provided by the exporter to verify whether the product complies with the required standard. If insufficient proof of conformity, samples will be taken for control testing in an accepted laboratory.

4. Physical Verification: The objective of the physical verification is to ensure that:
• The goods to be shipped are those identified in the documentary checks;
• The goods are in compliance with the relevant Standards;
• The goods are in compliance with the importer’s inspection order.
• If in any doubt, the inspector will take samples for control testing in an accepted laboratory. Critical non - conformities will result in a rejection of shipment and Non-Conformity Report issuance.

5. Certificate of Conformity issuance: With satisfactory inspection report, conformity documents and/or laboratory control test reports, the service provider evaluates the compliance of the products with the required Standards. If full compliancy is established, a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) is issued.

6. CoC Collection: The exporter or the importer can collect the CoC from the service provider.

7. The importer brings the CoC to ZBS Import Inspection Office to be authenticated.

8. The authenticated CoC is used to clear the consignment with Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA).

Routes under PVoC Schemes for obtaining CoC.

There are three (3) routes under which importers can obtain certification of their imports. These routes are as follows:

Pre-shipment inspection fees (PVoC fees):

Currently, ZBS has three (3) Service Providers which are responsible for PVoC scheme, namely: