Advancing Quality Infrastructure in Zimbabwe: Cotecna Welcomes Ministry Delegation for Annual CBCA Technical Assessment

Cotecna was honoured to welcome a delegation from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Zimbabwe for its annual technical assessment of the Zimbabwe Consignment Based Conformity Assessment (CBCA) Programme. As the owners and custodians of the programme, the Ministry plays a vital role in ensuring that the CBCA system continues to meet its objectives of protecting consumers, supporting fair trade, and facilitating the importation of safe and compliant products into Zimbabwe.

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During the visit, Ministry officials observed a live product inspection, providing valuable insight into the procedures used to verify compliance before goods are exported to Zimbabwe. The delegation also received updates on international trade trends, regulatory developments, and emerging challenges affecting product compliance.

Beyond reviewing operational performance, the assessment highlighted the importance of Zimbabwe's broader Quality Infrastructure (QI) system. Quality Infrastructure refers to the policies, institutions, regulations, and services that help ensure products meet required quality, safety, and performance standards. It is a key driver of consumer protection, industrial growth, and international competitiveness.

Three pillars are particularly important to the success of the CBCA Programme:

• Quality Policy provides the national framework that guides quality and compliance activities.

• Conformity Assessment includes testing, inspection, verification, and certification processes used to confirm products meet regulatory requirements before shipment.

• Market Surveillance ensures products continue to comply with requirements after they enter the market through monitoring and enforcement activities.

Together, these elements help prevent the entry of unsafe, counterfeit, and substandard products while supporting fair trade and business confidence.

As a long-standing partner of the Zimbabwe CBCA Programme, Cotecna remains committed to supporting the country's quality objectives through its global network of inspection, testing, verification, and certification services.

The annual assessment reaffirmed the value of ongoing collaboration between government and the private sector in strengthening Zimbabwe's quality ecosystem and creating a safer, more competitive trading environment.

Contact Cotecna today to get started or Download our FREE Zimbabwe Regulated Product List to quickly determine whether your goods require CBCA certification before shipment.

About Cotecna

For over 50 years, we have been supporting agriculture, food and pharma, minerals and metals, and consumer products supply chains all over the world. We provide testing, inspection, and certification services to help our clients navigate evolving regulations, ensure product compliance, and support their sustainability journey.