Cotecna, a leading company that provides testing, inspection and certification services in Zimbabwe is making positive inroads in the verification of conformity of imported goods and issuance of certificate of conformity in the country amid increasing threat of counterfeit products.
The Swiss-based company boasts of over 5,000 employees in more than 100 offices across approximately 50 countries.
Cotecna was appointed by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to issue Certificates of Conformity on its behalf in March last year.
The contract included four Consignment Based Conformity Assessment (CBCA) programs which include general goods, used motor vehicles and spare parts, consolidated shipments, and destination Inspections.
“We want to expand our work to capacity building of local businesses to understand the work we do as this has immense benefits,” Cotecna Vice President Verification of Conformity, Lena Södergren told 263Chat on the sidelines of a stakeholder cocktail.
Government introduced the CBCA certifications program in 2015.
All products getting into the country must be certified in the country of supply or before arrival at Zimbabwe ports of entry.
On arrival, products without the mandatory COC will be subject to a Destination Inspection and a 15% CIF penalty paid to ZIMRA.
“The battle against counterfeited goods has always been at the centre of the CBCA program,” said Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Roy Bila.
“Importation of cheap and often substandard products can compromise the health and environment of our communities and will have an impact on the competitiveness of our local industry.”
As an authorized CBCA service provider, Cotecna assists companies to obtain the mandatory COC either in the country of origin or at Destination since it is the only service provider authorized to issue certificates for all four Zimbabwe CBCA programmes.
The Consignment Based Conformity Assessment programme, will ensure that all listed imported products meet quality, safety, health and environmental standards in line with the World Trade Organisation agreements.
The pre-shipment processes include conformity documentary review, control testing if necessary, and physical inspection. The government has forewarned that importers without the Certificate of Conformity will be required to take corrective action which could include taking back the consignment to the country of origin at the trader’s expense.
In June last year, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce introduced a new requirement for imported used cars and used spare parts to be accompanied by a Certificate of Conformity for customs clearance.
With offices around the globe, Cotecna conducts vehicle inspections in exporting countries and landing ports prior to arrival in Zimbabwe.
Founded in Switzerland in 1974, Cotecna started off as a family business and has now grown to become a world- class international player with over 5,000 employees in more than 100 offices across approximately 50 countries.
