Certification Introduction
Zimbabwe implements mandatory compliance requirements for electrical and electronic products. A CBCA (Cargo Certification and Assessment Scheme) certificate is required for export customs clearance, and SAZ (Standards Association of Zimbabwe) certification is mandatory for legal placement of products on the Zimbabwean market. Most electrical and electronic products including low-voltage electrical appliances, lighting equipment, household electronic appliances, information technology equipment, and electrical machinery fall under the scope of mandatory control. Goods without valid qualification certificates will be refused entry by Zimbabwe Customs.
Laws and Regulations
The core regulatory document is the Cargo Certification and Assessment Scheme (CBCA) released by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Zimbabwe in 2015. The Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) and Zimbabwe Bureau of Standards (ZBS) are responsible for scheme implementation and certification supervision. The latest updated product control scope can be queried on the official website of Zimbabwe's Ministry of Industry and Commerce or SAZ.
Technical Requirements
Testing standards generally refer to IEC international standards or Southern African Development Community (SADC) harmonized standards. Common applicable standards include the IEC 60335 series (Safety of household and similar electrical appliances).
- Grid compatibility: Products must match 220V/50Hz voltage, and plugs must comply with the South African Type M (three round pins) standard.
- Marking and documentation: Products must be marked with the SAZ certification mark, and provided with English instruction manuals including safety warnings, operation instructions and warranty information.
- Environmental requirements: The use of hazardous substances such as lead and mercury must be restricted, in compliance with relevant RoHS requirements.
- Some high-risk household appliance products are required to provide additional energy efficiency test reports.
Certification Process
Enterprises shall first confirm whether their products fall into the mandatory control category, prepare application materials, product technical documents and pre-test reports that meet IEC/ISO requirements, and submit the certification application through a locally registered agent in Zimbabwe. Samples shall be sent to SAZ-accredited laboratories for standard testing as required, and high-risk products shall cooperate with factory quality system audits. After passing all tests and audits, the CBCA customs clearance certificate and SAZ market access certificate will be issued, and the certificates shall be submitted along with the goods for import customs clearance. As a professional technical service organization,
WANVE, as a professional technical service organization, provides one-stop full compliance support for enterprise export.