Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) has cautioned manufacturers in the country to maintain high standards after being certified or risked revocation of their certificates.
Yesterday, MBS presented certificates of compliance to manufacturers in the Central Region, following a similar exercise in Blantyre. The organisation is expected to present certificates in Mzuzu tomorrow, with a total of 206 companies nationwide being certified in this round.
Speaking during the ceremony in Lilongwe, MBS director general Simon Mandala warned companies that have complied with required the assessment, their certificates are still property of the bureau.
“Be mindful that the bureau has the authority to revoke those certificates once we receive complaints about quality of your goods and find out that it’s true, so I would encourage you to maintain the standards,” he said.
Mandala said many companies have of late realised the importance of quality certification and are applying for certification.
On his part, MBS Board vice-chairperson Senior Chief Kaomba said the bureau is serious with matters of quality of products, whether locally manufactured or imported.
He also warned that the public is quality-sensitive these days; hence, the increasing social media posts of sub-standard products which disadvantages the manufacturer.
Said Kaomba: “Don’t think it’s only the bureau that is quality sensitive, the public is also active in this so if you relax because you have this certificate, don’t cry tomorrow when you see your products being negatively discussed on social media.”
One of the certificate recipients Simon Magombo, an entrepreneur who supplies quails and other poultry products to various hotels and supermarkets in the city, said the certificates are a big boost because now customers will have more confidence in his products. n
