Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) has destroyed 985 sub-standard vehicle batteries of GS make worth 55.25m/-, which were imported by Nobel Azania Auto Spares Limited from Indonesia last year.
Workers of Nobel Azania Auto Spares Limited destroy car batteries at the company’s headquarters on Nyerere Road in Dar es Salaam yesterday. The exercise was supervised by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS). (Photo by Ludovick Kazoka)
TBS Principal Legal Officer, Mr Baptister Bitaho, told journalists in Dar es Salaam that the amount was part of 1,393 batteries imported by the mentioned company. However, they had failed the Rating Capacity to meet the national standard of TZS 144:2011.
“We have started destroying these batteries but the bureau is all set to ensure that products of this nature are removed from the market,” said Mr Bitaho. Reports suggest that the market is flooded with sub-standard and fake vehicle batteries, which have caused huge losses to vehicle owners.
Meanwhile, TBS has granted licences of standards to 47 companies and entrepreneurs, after their products excelled in the test to establish their quality. TBS acting Director General, Mr Joseph Masikitiko, said the licences would give credit to producers and earn them trust from consumers, adding that quality should not be compromised.
“TBS will keep monitoring the local market to protect it from becoming dumping ground of sub-standard products,” he said. General Petroleum Company General Manager, Mr Irfan Khan, whose company was one of the institutions granted licences, advised the people to buy products with TBS mark because they are safe.
By LUDOVICK KAZOKA, Tanzania Daily News
