Agencies

TBS import inspection and the PVoC programme

Q: How long is a PVoC certificate valid?

Three months from the date of issue.

Last checked 24 October 2026 · 8 sources

Short answer

The Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) checks regulated imports before they ship under its Pre-shipment Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme. It cites section 4(1)(s) of the Standards Act No. 2 of 2009 ¹. Contracted inspection firms issue a Certificate of Conformity (CoC), and the importer has it authenticated at the TBS Imports Office before clearance ^2,3. Fees run from 0.25% to 0.50% of FOB value ². Regulated goods that arrive without a CoC face destination inspection and a penalty of 15% of invoice value ^4,5.

Agency: Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) ¹
Legal basis cited: Section 4(1)(s) of the Standards Act No. 2 of 2009 ¹
PVoC start: 1 February 2012, per the TBS guideline ²
Certificate: Certificate of Conformity, valid 3 months from issue ²
Fees: 0.25% to 0.50% of FOB, minimum US$250, maximum US$5,000 ²
Penalty without CoC: 15% of total invoice value as assessed by TRA ⁵
Contact: info@tbs.go.tz, +255 22 2450206, toll-free 0800110827 ¹

What PVoC is

PVoC is a TBS programme that checks regulated goods in the exporting country before shipment ¹. Consignments need customs clearance documents and a CoC before they ship ¹. Authorised third-party firms carry out the checks by physical inspection, laboratory testing, document review and factory audits where needed ¹. TBS lists the regulated goods by HS code in files attached to its PVoC page ¹.

The TBS guideline says the programme began on 1 February 2012 and that the current service provider contract runs from 2025 to 2028 ². TRA lists import permits from TBS among the documents an importer may need ⁶.

Inspection firms

The TBS guideline names these providers and their work ². The PVoC page contact lists name SGS, Intertek, TUV, CCIC and WSCT ¹. An earlier TBS guideline, which carries no date but is filed as 2023 and refers to a 2022 to 2024 contract, named Bureau Veritas among the partners ⁷.

Provider	Role in the 2025 guideline
Intertek International, SGS, TUV-Rheinland ²	General goods ²
China Certification and Inspection Group (CCIC) ²	General goods and used vehicles from China Mainland, Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan ²
EAA Company Limited ²	Used motor vehicles from Japan and the United Kingdom ²
Quality Inspection Services Inc. Japan (QISJ) ²	Used motor vehicles from Dubai, UAE ²

Routes and fees

Route A means each shipment is inspected and tested. Route B is a fast track for products with a steady record of compliance, with registration renewed each year. Route C is for manufacturers with a quality management system, with a licence renewed each year ². The same fee table appears in the 2023 and 2025 guidelines ^2,7.

Route	Fee as % of FOB	Minimum	Maximum
A ²	0.50% ²	US$250 ²	US$5,000 ²
B ²	0.45% ²	US$250 ²	US$5,000 ²
C ²	0.25% ²	US$250 ²	US$5,000 ²

Steps to get and use a CoC

The TBS summarised procedure dated August 2026 sets out these steps ³.

The supplier or importer sends a Request for Certificate for each shipment under the programme ³.
The provider asks the exporter when and where the goods will be ready for inspection ³.
The provider checks the documents. Weak proof of conformity leads to lab testing or a Non-Conformity Report ³.
Inspectors check the goods against the documents and standards. Critical faults lead to rejection ³.
The provider issues the CoC and the exporter or importer collects it ³.
The importer submits the original CoC with shipping and customs documents to the TBS Imports Office for authentication ³.
The importer or clearing agent clears the goods at the port with the authenticated CoC ³.
Food and cosmetics need a TBS registration certificate from the online system at oas.tbs.go.tz ³.

Destination inspection and penalties

Destination Inspection checks imported goods after they arrive ⁴. It covers goods on the TBS compulsory list and PVoC goods that arrive without a CoC ⁴.

The TBS penalty sheet for general goods sets a penalty of 15% of the total invoice value as assessed by TRA. It lists an inspection fee of TZS 100,000 and testing fees that vary by product ⁵. Batch certification costs TSh 2.5 per kg for sugar and TSh 6 per kg for other goods ⁵. Goods that fail the standards are returned or destroyed at the importer's cost ⁵.

Shelf life rules apply at the port of entry. Food needs at least 75% of shelf life left, or 12 months for products with over 18 months of shelf life. Other goods need at least 50% ³.

Audit finding

The Controller and Auditor General's information systems report for FY 2024/25 found that the TBS Online Application System was not integrated with TANCIS to access vessel manifests and validate imported goods. The report said this may lead to duplication of effort and weaker oversight ⁸. No TBS management response was found in the parts of the report read for this page.

Common questions

How much does a TBS PVoC certificate cost?

Route A costs 0.50%, Route B 0.45% and Route C 0.25% of FOB value, with a US$250 minimum and US$5,000 maximum ².

What happens if goods arrive in Tanzania without a CoC?

They go to destination inspection with a penalty of 15% of invoice value, plus a TZS 100,000 inspection fee and testing costs ^4,5.

How long is a PVoC certificate valid?

Three months from the date of issue ².

Who issues PVoC certificates for goods from China?

The 2025 TBS guideline names CCIC for goods from China Mainland, Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan ².

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@tanzaniatradesystems.com.

Sources

How customs clearance works in Tanzania
The steps to clear imported goods in Tanzania, from appointing a licensed agent and lodging in TANCIS to paying port charges and collecting cargo.
Tanzania Electronic Single Window System (TeSWS)
The status of TeSWS by phase, the WTO deadline, agencies and agents onboarded, the donor, and how it relates to TANCIS and the Zanzibar single window.
TANCIS: the Tanzania Customs Integrated System
What TANCIS does, who runs it, when it started, what it replaced, which systems it links to and what the CAG found about its integration.
CAG findings on Tanzania's trade and revenue systems
Controller and Auditor General findings on EFDs, revenue collection, ICT systems and cooperative audits in Tanzania, with dates and official responses.
Importing a used vehicle into Tanzania
The TBS roadworthiness certificate, the penalty for uninspected vehicles, excise by age, port charges and TRA registration for used vehicle imports.