TBS Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (Tanzania)
TBS PVoC (Pre-Export Verification of Conformity) is the Tanzania Bureau of Standards conformity programme requiring third-party inspection and certification of regulated imports — including used construction machinery — at the country of origin BEFORE shipment to Tanzania. A valid Certificate of Conformity is required for Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) clearance at Dar es Salaam.
Scope and legal basis
TBS PVoC was established under the Standards Act (Cap 130 R.E. 2009) and is enforced by Tanzania Bureau of Standards in coordination with TRA Customs at Dar es Salaam and Tanga ports. It covers regulated imports including used machinery (HS 8429), motor vehicles, electrical equipment, processed food, and pharmaceuticals.
Process at China origin
The same three appointed inspection companies serve TBS PVoC as for KEBS PVoC: Intertek, SGS, and Bureau Veritas. Yard prepares machine, books inspection (5-7 working days lead time), inspector issues Certificate of Conformity. TBS PVoC fee per machine in 2026: approximately USD 420-560 (marginally higher than KEBS).
Tanzania-specific requirements
Beyond the standard CoC, TBS additionally requires a Health and Safety Declaration confirming the machine does not contain Schedule 1 hazardous substances under the Tanzania Environmental Management Act. This is typically a yard declaration without separate inspection. TRA Customs also requires the original commercial invoice to identify the seller's TIN or equivalent — Chinese yards using Hong Kong intermediary invoicing must align with this requirement before deposit.
Tanzania tariff stack
Beyond conformity certification, Tanzania's tariff on used machinery in 2026 is approximately 49.6% of CIF — comprising 25% import duty (East African Community Common External Tariff), 18% VAT, 1.5% Railway Development Levy, and 1.6% wharfage. This is meaningfully higher than Kenya's stack (approximately 47%) — the duty differential drives some Tanzania-destined machines to route via Mombasa with transit-bond instead of landing at Dar.
Dar es Salaam landing and clearance
Port of Dar es Salaam (operated by Tanzania Ports Authority) handles approximately 17 million tonnes of cargo annually in 2026. Customs clearance throughput for a clean-document machine: 4-7 days. Storage free for 5 days from vessel discharge, then USD 32-48 per day. Onward inland transit: Dar to Arusha ~640 km / 2 days, Dar to Mwanza ~1,150 km / 3-4 days, Dar to Mbeya ~840 km / 2.5 days.