Lesotho - Trade StandardsLesotho - Trade Standards
Overview
Lesotho does not have a national standards body; the standards and quality assurance section of the Ministry of Trade and Industry is the focal point for standards issues. No national standards have been developed to date. Industries in Lesotho have traditionally relied on the South African Bureau of Standards for voluntary standards facilities and quality and assurance schemes. Lesotho exporters have developed their standards according to the technical quality requirements of importing countries and international standards. Lesotho participates in a regional program on Standardization, Quality, Accreditation and Metrology for SADC. The program aims to harmonize standards across all member states. Foreign companies producing in Lesotho for export have complained about the lack of a standards body in Lesotho and the reliance on South African Bureau of Standards.
Standards Organizations
Lesotho is a member of the World Trade Organization.
NIST Notify U.S. Service
Member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are required under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) to report to the WTO all proposed technical regulations that could affect trade with other Member countries. Notify U.S. is a free, web-based e-mail subscription service that offers an opportunity to review and comment on proposed foreign technical regulations that can affect your access to international markets. Register online at Internet URL: http://www.nist.gov/notifyus/
Contacts
Ministry of Trade and Industry, Cooperatives and Marketing
P. O. Box 747, Maseru
Lesotho
Tel: (266) 22324939, Fax: (266) 22310644
Website: http://www.trade.gov.ls/departments/standards.php