Policies and regulations harmonisation make EAC more relevant, useful BERNARD LUGONGO

To achieve this, under the Article 6 of the protocol on the establishment of the EAC customs union the partner states resolved to work on, among others, reducing the number and volume of documentation required in respect of trade.

Also, adopting common standards of trade documentation and procedures within the Community where international requirements do not suit the conditions prevailing among the Partner States and collecting and disseminating information on trade and trade documentation.

The regional protocol on standardisation, quality assurance, metrology and testing states that the partner states shall evolve and apply a common policy on standardisation, quality assurance, metrology and testing of products produced and traded within the community.

The partner states also shall endeavour to promote standardisation, quality assurance, metrology and testing activities undertaken within their respective territories’ bureau of standards and develop their technical capacities to enable the adequately carry out standardization, quality assurance, metrology and testing activities at the national level and to co-operate with the other partner states and other relevant bodies.

The harmonised inspection regime will facilitate the inspection of products at the first point of entry into the EAC territory. This is to ensure that goods shall only be inspected once and allowed to enjoy free circulation in all partner states thereafter.

But the stakeholders argue that citizens of the partner states are yet to reap enough opportunities in the business sector because of lacking common standards of goods traded within the member states.

Treasurer of the Vibindo Society, Mr Jumbe Ngutto, says lack of agreed common standards has been impeding the traders to export their goods to other member countries. Because of this, you may find that entrepreneurs could have their goods meet quality standards in their countries but the same commodities may not have quality required in other partner states, he argues.

This situation has been discouraging the business community in the country, and thus making them unable to utilize the regional market. business formalisation processes and Taxpayers Identity Number (TIN) in the countries needed to be looked at with regard to make them harmonised.

On this note, the Foundation for Civil Society (FCS) has engaged several Nongovernmental organisations in programme to build their capacities in exposing opportunities in the EAC and educating them on empowering the citizens on how to benefit from them.

Director of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) and Standards at TradeMark East Africa (TMEA), Mr José Maciel, once argued that standards are vital to integration in safeguarding the health and safety of the consumers and the environment. Standards can cut the cost and time of doing businessby huge amounts, in that sense, they are central to the future wealth of the EAC.

Ultimately, regional harmonisation of standards benefits the poor in the EAC region as lowering the cost of products makes them more affordable. It may also lower the cost of production by not requiring different lines of products to conform with different standards required by different countries. Furthermore, regional harmonisation of standards may also increase the amount of trade within the EAC by making the cost of products.

The Executive Director of the Tanzania Chambers of Commerce (TCC), Ms Flora Rimoy, says more is supposed to be done in disseminating clear information about benefits and opportunities of the free movement of goods and people in the EAC.