In an effort to prevent sub-standard products from entering Tanzania, importers of lubricants will be required to obtain import permits from the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) commencing May.

Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment Charles Mwijage made the announcement during his official visit to three lubricant blending plants in Dar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania.

Mwijage said there has been an influx of sub-standard lubricant products in the local market; thus TBS is compelled to implement a mechanism to stop this. “In the previous years people were importing oil lubricants without any permits from TBS, something which has brought us here, from today onwards anyone who wish to import must get permit from TBS,” he said.

The minister pointed out that the use of sub-standard lubricants could potentially harm equipment and cause vehicles to break down. Mwijage urged mining and other industries to use locally produced lubricants, pointing to the potential loss of local jobs.