Certification Introduction

Zimbabwe implements mandatory compliance requirements for electrical and electronic products. A CBCA (Cargo Based Conformity Assessment) certificate is required for export customs clearance, and SAZ (Standards Association of Zimbabwe) certification is mandatory for legal placement on the local market. Most electrical and electronic products, including low-voltage electrical appliances, lighting equipment, home 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 Zimbabwean customs.

Laws and Regulations

The core regulatory document is the *Cargo Based Conformity Assessment Scheme (CBCA) released by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Zimbabwe in 2015, and the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) and the Zimbabwe Bureau of Standards (ZBS) are responsible for scheme implementation and certification supervision. The latest updates on the specific scope of controlled products can be queried on the official websites of the Zimbabwean Ministry of Industry and Commerce or SAZ.

Technical Requirements

Test standards generally reference IEC international standards or harmonized standards of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Common applicable standards include the IEC 60335 series (Safety of household and similar electrical appliances). Grid compatibility: It is required to 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 containing safety warnings, usage instructions and warranty information. Environmental requirements: The use of hazardous substances such as lead and mercury must be restricted to comply with relevant RoHS requirements. Some high-risk household appliance products need to additionally provide an energy efficiency test report.

Certification Process

Confirm whether the product belongs to the mandatory control category, prepare application materials, product technical documents and a pre-test report that meets IEC/ISO requirements, and submit the certification application through a locally registered agent in Zimbabwe.

Send samples as required to a SAZ-accredited laboratory to complete standard testing, and high-risk products need to cooperate with the completion of the factory quality system audit.

After all tests and audits are qualified, you can obtain the CBCA customs clearance certificate and SAZ market access certificate, which must be submitted with the goods for import customs clearance.

WANVE provides one-stop full compliance support for enterprise export.