Namibia moves to set up standards bureau

THE Ministry of Trade and Industry yesterday introduced a bill to establish the Namibian Standards Institution (NSI).

The Standards Bill provides for the promotion, regulation and maintenance of standards for the quality of products. Introducing the bill in the National Assembly on Tuesday, Trade and Industry Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko said the country faced critical challenges in improving quality standards that are required by foreign markets.He said non-compliance with international standards deprived many developing economies, including Namibia, from access to international markets and further reduces the continent’s global market share, especially in agricultural products, fisheries and light manufacturing such as textiles.The NSI will be governed, supervised and controlled by the Namibian Standards Council (NSC).A CEO will be appointed to the NSC, as well as four people representing the private sector who have knowledge of commercial standards, commerce, industry, consumer and labour matters.The NSC will be permitted to establish advisory or technical committees to perform functions prescribed by the council.The NSI will be required to declare a mark to be used as an NSI Mark of Conformity that may be applied to any product or system meeting the required standards.”I would like to emphasise that the NSI mark of conformity is actually a quality mark and its use shall have enormous impact on the profitability of a business unit, as it shall symbolise the continuous improvement of its products and services,” Ngatjizeko said.The NSI will be funded through Parliament.The Standards Bill is the second of three pieces of legislation from the Ministry of Trade that will facilitate Namibia’s compliance with the requirements of the WTO and the SADC Protocol on Trade.Namibia is required to invest in the development and application of standards that require better enterprise-wide supply management techniques, record systems and equipment, including detailed labelling and traceability systems.The new Act will repeal the Standards Act of 1962 and several amendments made to it over the years.Introducing the bill in the National Assembly on Tuesday, Trade and Industry Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko said the country faced critical challenges in improving quality standards that are required by foreign markets.He said non-compliance with international standards deprived many developing economies, including Namibia, from access to international markets and further reduces the continent’s global market share, especially in agricultural products, fisheries and light manufacturing such as textiles.The NSI will be governed, supervised and controlled by the Namibian Standards Council (NSC).A CEO will be appointed to the NSC, as well as four people representing the private sector who have knowledge of commercial standards, commerce, industry, consumer and labour matters.The NSC will be permitted to establish advisory or technical committees to perform functions prescribed by the council.The NSI will be required to declare a mark to be used as an NSI Mark of Conformity that may be applied to any product or system meeting the required standards.”I would like to emphasise that the NSI mark of conformity is actually a quality mark and its use shall have enormous impact on the profitability of a business unit, as it shall symbolise the continuous improvement of its products and services,” Ngatjizeko said.The NSI will be funded through Parliament.The Standards Bill is the second of three pieces of legislation from the Ministry of Trade that will facilitate Namibia’s compliance with the requirements of the WTO and the SADC Protocol on Trade.Namibia is required to invest in the development and application of standards that require better enterprise-wide supply management techniques, record systems and equipment, including detailed labelling and traceability systems.The new Act will repeal the Standards Act of 1962 and several amendments made to it over the years.