Table of contents
- You need an MRA Tax compliance Certificate and TIN before applying for product certification2
- Obtain a copy of the relevant applicable standards from the MBS library and set up your premises, plant, processes and products to meet those standards2
- Have your measuring instruments verified and calibrated, then pay initial inspection fees and submit your application2
- After initial audit assessment and MBS pre-certification approval, you gain market access with the MBS pre-certification mark, followed by continuous audit assessments2
The Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) certifies products and services that meet established standards for quality, safety and performance.1 Certification involves meeting preliminary conformity assessment criteria, undergoing inspections, and maintaining compliance through ongoing assessments.12
What you need before applying
To start the certification process, you must have an MRA Tax compliance Certificate and TIN.2 You should then procure a copy of the relevant applicable standards from the MBS library for your product.2 Set up your premises, plant, processes and products or services according to the requirements of those standards.2 You will also need to have your measuring instruments verified and calibrated.2
The certification process
The certification pathway begins with application, payment of initial inspection fees and application review.2 Next, the MBS conducts an initial audit assessment of your product.2 Once you pass this stage, you receive MBS pre-certification approval, which grants you market access with the MBS pre-certification mark.2 After pre-certification, you enter a phase of continuous audit assessments.2 Upon full certification, you are allowed to use the MBS Quality Mark, such as MS 21 for food products or MS 19 and other product standards.2 The MBS also carries out market surveillance and handles renewal or withdrawal of certification.2
Additional support
If you are a small or medium enterprise, you can benefit from the MBS-SMEDI memorandum of understanding arrangement plus other government efforts towards capacity building.2 The Malawi Investment and Trade Centre also provides technical support on standards compliance and certification requirements.10
Official sources
- Malawi Bureau of Standards mbsmw.org
- No Slide Title npc.mw · PDF
- About the Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (MITC) mitc.mw
Every fact in this guide comes from these official Government of Malawi pages, numbered to match. Fees, dates and rules change: confirm on the official site before you go. Spotted an error? Tell us.