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Harare - Zimbabwe has engaged French-based quality inspection company Bureau Veritas in an effort to curb the influx of cheap imports.
Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Chiratidzo Mabuwa told stakeholders at the launch of the awareness campaign for the consignment bases conformity assessment programme that Veritas will start operations on May 16.
Under the agreement, Veritas will inspect each batch of goods entering Zimbabwe.
The move is likely to impact some South African companies, as South Africa exports US$2.5bn worth of goods to its neighbouring country.
Mabuwa said Zimbabwe is currently flooded with substandard goods which are impacting on industry growth and competitiveness.
“Companies are losing out on substandard goods and with the import bill totalling over $5bn, we need to get value for our money,” she said.
Products liable to pre-shipment inspection include electrical products, clothing, timber, building products, food and agriculture as well as health products.
Bureau Veritas closed last year with a balance sheet of over $4.17bn and currently has a presence in over 140 countries worldwide.
