This document contains the laws that help protect the rights of consumers

1. BOTSWANA BUREA OF
STANDARDS&WEIGHTS AND
MEASURES ACT
BY; KUTLWANO RASETHORA & OMAATLA GOITSEONE

2. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ACT

3. INTRODUCTION
A Weight and Measures Act is a kind of legislative act found
in many jurisdictions establishing technical standards for
weights and measures. The Weights and Measures Act
chapter 43:06 highlight the purpose of this act which says to
ensure fair trade transactions through inspection and
verification of weighing and measuring instruments used for
trade. This act was enacted by the parliament of Botswana
and the commencement date is 15th September 2006

4. OBJECTIVES OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ACT
To establish standards of weights and measures
Provision and operation of weighing instruments
To regulate inter-state trade or commerce in weights,
measures and other goods which are sold or distributed
by weight

5. RIGHTS ADDRESED BY THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ACT
RIGHT TO be heard
the weights and measures act ensures that when the consumer complain about the
goods and the services, they are provided with the seller must ensure they are
being assisted and heard otherwise they will be faced with serious charges

6. RIGHT TO SAFE AND GOOD QUALITY GOODS
According to the act any person who, by any means whatsoever, whether directly
or indirectly - (a) makes a false, incorrect or untrue declaration or statement as to
the weight, length, gauge, width, area, volume or number of any article in
connection with its purchase, sale, weighing or measurement; or (b ) sells or causes
to be sold anything by weight or measure short of the quantity demanded of, or
represented by, the seller, commits an offence and, upon conviction, shall be liable
to a fine not exceeding P6,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six
months, or to both.
This ensures that consumers get the goods with right weight because the seller
doesn’t want to face such punishment.

7. RIGHT TO BE INFORMED
The purchaser of any pre-packed article sold by weight or measure may require the
seller to confirm in the presence of the purchaser the weight or measure by which
such article was sold. This section in the weights and measures act indicate that
consumers or the purchaser has the right to know the exact weights or measures
of the goods they buy hence being informed about the goods they consume.

8. CONSUMER RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE ACT
The consumer should make sure’
The shop or store uses the right instrument for weighing goods
 should also check with store to ensure that the scale they use is well calibrated
That the business has a certificate of operation from BOBS

9. BOTSWANA BUREAU OF
STANDARDS ACT

10. OBJECTIVES
• Description of the act/law and its purpose
• How the law protect the rights of the consumers
• Consumer rights and responsibilities in relation to
the act .

11. INTRODUCTION
BOTSWANA BUREAU OF STANDARDS
• The Botswana Bureau of Standards is a parastatal organization established
by Botswana Act No.16 of 1995.Its main duties are to develop and
implement Botswana Standards. BOBS is the official body responsible for
all issues related to standardization and quality assurance at the
national level. BOBS is also a full member of the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO), the national contact point for all
Southern African Development Community (SADC) programmes related to
standardization and quality assurance and the national Enquiry Point for
standards regulations under the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade Agreement (WTO/TBT) .The construction industry is one of
the major users of standards in any country.

12. THE OBJECTIVES OF BOBS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ;
Establishing and implementing national standards
Providing consultancy to organizations
Operating product and management system certification schemes
Making arrangements or providing metrology services and testing facilities for
testing of both locally manufactured and imported commodities
Making arrangements for company and personnel certification and also
laboratory accreditation
Providing information services related to standards and quality.

13. HOW THE LAW PROTECTS THE RIGHTS OF THE CONSUMERS
It helps set standards which put the rights of consumers forward e.g.
a supplier selling a product to a consumer shall attach a label on the
product as required by the mandatory safety standards on labelling of
goods for the relevant class of goods set by Botswana Bureau of
Standards .

14. RIGHT TO SAFETY
• BOBS provides conformity assessments in testing, certification ,and inspection. BOBS
has laboratories which performs tests or calibrations for the government.
• Any public or private body whose product satisfies all the requirements of a Botswana
product standard can apply to BOBS for the product to be certified. Samples of the
product are then tested to verify its conformance to the requirements of the product
standards ,if the results are acceptable the product can then obtain the BOBS
certification mark.
• A consumer has the right to receive goods which are of good quality and free of
defects that is why every product goes through testing first to ensure that the product
is of good quality

15. RIGHT TO BE INFORMED
• BOBS is dedicated at the implementation of Botswana standards ,the major
implementation instruments employed are product certification and testing,
management systems and training .
• There is the environmental management system, the thrust of an environmental
management system is on ensuring that the organization's operations are carried out
in an environmentally responsible way .
• E.g an environmental management system will ensure that an organization minimizes
social concerns over its operations therefore in this case a consumer has to be aware
of each standard so that when things are not right they may be able to complain to
relevant authorities.

16. RIGHT TO REDRESS
Under the BOBS consumer complaints, the recognized body shall operate and
maintain procedures for handling and recording of complaints against the services
offered by the recognized body in accordance with the SIIR recognition scheme,
This indicates that consumers right to redress is not neglected.

17. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CONSUMER
A consumer has the responsibility to;
Check if the business they are receiving services from has the certificate from
BOBS.
Make sure that the goods that are being supplied to them are properly labelled
since labelling of goods according to relevant class of goods is mandatory by
BOBS.