The Tanzania Food and Drug Authority (TFDA) and TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) have jointly unveiled a new information system (e-portal) to speed up customs processes around the movement of food and pharmaceutical products.
A TMEA statement noted that the TFDA e-portal would enable traders who dealt in the importation, exportation and distribution of foods, medicines, cosmetic materials and medical devices to apply for, and obtain approval online for all the mandatory certificates. It will also enable officers to access lodged documents electronically 24/7 while providing for them an interface with Tanzania National Electronic Single Window
TFDA has also established a management information system as part of the portal to be used for data collection, storage and analysis pertaining to regulation of food, medicines, cosmetics, medical devices and premises in Tanzania.
The expected benefits of the online portal include:
- Increased efficiency through time and cost saving for TFDA and stakeholders as the portal eliminates the need for physical presence of customers at TFDA offices;
- Easier access to standardised information and documents at a single entry point;
- Increased compliance rates;
- Better transparency and accountability by TFDA and its customers.
