General Standards
Standards in Burundi are based on national and international guidelines, including East African Standards, ISO Standards and Codex Alimentarus Standards.
Standards organizations
The Bureau Burundais de Normalisation et Contrôle de la Qualité (BBN) represents the national standardization body of Burundi. The main objectives of the BBN are the following:
- prepare draft national standards in cooperation with the technical committees
- promote quality management and quality assurance
- contribute to finding appropriate technologies and to acquire for its own purposes and for the purposes of others all relevant documentation in the field of standardization and quality control
- establish and support any committees, commissions, laboratories or other services dealing with standardization in Burundi
- represent the national interests in foreign and international standards and quality control bodies
- to take all action required to achieve the aims of standardization and quality control.
Other BNN functions include:
- research and disseminate national standards documents and technical Barriers to Trade in compliance with the WTO Agreement
- update and disseminate the information widely speaking about the standardization as well as the WTO agreements
- establish and hold up to date a service of information placing at disposal of the authorities and the public the updated information concerning the national, regional and international standards in relation with the commercial exchanges and the industry.
The BBN comprises four technical divisions:
1 The Standardization and Metrology Division
2 The Laboratory and Inspection Body Certification, Accreditation and Supervision Division
3 The Training and Technical Help to Companies Division
4 The Standards Documentation Division.
Conformity assessment
The Burundi Bureau of Standards and Quality Control has introduced its own Pre-Shipment Verification of Conformity (PVoC) program, being in conformity with other State Members of the East African Community. The PVoC scheme has been designed to protect consumer health and safety by ensuring that goods imported to Burundi conform to applicable local, regional and/or international standards.
The Burundi Bureau of Standards and Quality Control provides the following services:
- physical inspection prior to shipment
- sampling, testing and analysis in accredited laboratories
- audit of product manufacturing processes
- documentary check and assessment of conformity with the requirements of the applicable standards
To obtain proof that products meet all the requirements, standards and technical regulations, goods must pass one or a combination of the following verification process:
- physical inspection of the product
- laboratory testing
- factory audit
- documentary verification
After verification process is completed and the results are satisfactory, traders will have to submit the Final Invoice in order to obtain the Certificate of Conformity.
Product certification
Product certification starts with an inspection. Samples are analyzed in a laboratory appointed by the Certification, Accreditation and Surveillance of Laboratories Division of BBN. If laboratory results conform to standards and requirements, the results and the a certificate are provided to the owner of the product. The appropriate department will conduct follow-up investigations to ensure that the products are in the same condition upon delivery to consumers.
Accreditation
The Certification and Accreditation division appoints laboratories to perform product sampling tests. The division also performs regular oversight visits to ensure test are carried out according to the criteria established by the Burundi's government.
Contacts
Bureau Burundais de Normalisation et Contrôle de la Qualité
Website: http://bbn-burundi.org
E-mail: info@bbn-burundi.org
Address: 500 Boulevard de la Tanzanie, Quartier Industriel, Bujumbura, Burundi
Tel: +257 22 22 18 15
Fax: +257 22 22 55 95
