Botswana Bureau Of Standards

What Botswana Bureau Of Standards does

Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) is a government parastatal organization established in 1992 and operating under the Standards Act No. 16 of 1995 and the Weights and Measures Act No. 21 of 2006. As the sole National Standards Body for Botswana, BOBS formulates and publishes national standards, operates accredited testing and calibration laboratories, issues product and management system certifications, enforces compulsory standards, and provides training on international management system standards. The organization is overseen by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry and is governed by a 12-member Standards Council. It serves importers, exporters, manufacturers, traders, mining operators, construction firms, and consumers across Botswana, with operational presence in Gaborone (headquarters and weighbridge), Francistown (branch), and sales points in Serowe and Maun.

BOBS operates an interconnected platform of standardization services built around three core technical assets: a portfolio of over 1,600 published Botswana Standards aligned with ISO, IEC, and OIML international standards; SADCAS-accredited testing laboratories (ISO/IEC 17025:2017) spanning microbiology, chemistry, textiles, mechanical, civil engineering, and electrical disciplines; and SADCAS-accredited calibration laboratories (ISO/IEC 17025:2017) and inspection body (ISO/IEC 17020:2012) covering temperature, dimension, mass, force, pressure, torque, electrical, volume, and biological safety cabinet measurements. Twenty-one active Technical Committees drive standards development through a structured 10-step process culminating in Government Gazette publication. The technology stack includes an e-commerce webstore with 1,415+ standard products and a subscription portal for ongoing access to standards collections with update alerts.

BOBS generates revenue through a diversified mix of fee-based commercial services and government oversight functions. Revenue streams include one-time standards sales (P285-P627 per standard), recurring annual certification fees (Standards Mark, Batch Mark, Management System Certification against BOS ISO 9001), per-participant training course fees (P3,420-P7,980), usage-based testing and calibration fees, professional regulatory services, and facilities hire. Distribution occurs through the webstore, physical sales points at the head office, Francistown branch, CIPA offices, and the Botswana National Productivity Centre, plus direct enterprise engagement for certification, testing, and calibration services. Customer enquiry, supplier registration, and public comment workflows are managed through the BOBS website.

Name

Botswana Bureau Of Standards

Legal name

Botswana Bureau of Standards

Website

https://bobstandards.bw

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) is a government parastatal and sole National Standards Body for Botswana, developing and publishing national standards, operating SADCAS-accredited testing and calibration laboratories, issuing product and management system certifications, enforcing compulsory standards, and delivering accredited training. It serves importers, exporters, manufacturers, traders, miners, constructors, and consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Standards and Conformity Assessment Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Standards Development & Publishing (SDOs, Technical Standards) (MPAJACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conformity Assessment, Testing, Inspection & Certification Cooperation (BPADANAD), Certification Program Administration & Scheme Management (Standard Owners) (AFALACAC), Food Safety Certification Bodies (ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRCGS, SQF) (AFALAAAC)

Keywords

• National standards body
• Conformity testing services
• Product certification schemes
• Metrology calibration services
• Standards development publication

Headquarters

HQ city

Gaborone

HQ country

Botswana

HQ region

Africa

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Standards Sales: Sale of Botswana Standards, international standards (ISO, IEC), and regional standards through webstore, subscription service, and physical sales points. Standards are sold individually or through subscription packages.
2. Certification Services: Product certification (Standards Mark, Batch Mark) and Management System Certification services for products, processes, and systems.
3. Training Services: Training courses on standards including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and other standardization topics. Accredited by HRDC as Education and Training Provider.
4. Testing Services: Product testing in Chemistry, Microbiology, Textiles, Mechanical, Civil Engineering, and Electrical Engineering disciplines.
5. Calibration Services: Calibration of testing and measuring instruments across multiple disciplines, accredited by SADCAS.
6. Regulatory Services: Compulsory standards enforcement, verification of weighing and measuring instruments, and regulatory compliance services.
7. Facilities Hire: Conference facilities, training facilities, press conference rooms, and business center rental.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) develops and publishes Botswana National Standards, sells them through a webstore and subscription portal, and provides accredited conformity assessment services including product testing across multiple engineering disciplines, industrial calibration of measuring instruments, product certification (Standards Mark and Batch Mark), management system certification (BOS ISO 9001), HRDC-accredited training on standards, and regulatory enforcement of compulsory standards and trade metrology under the Standards Act and Weights and Measures Act.

Product overview

Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) is the national standards body providing a comprehensive portfolio of standardization and quality assurance services. The organization operates as a platform of interconnected services rather than a single unified product. Core offerings include: the Standards Development and Publication system (Botswana Standards documents across 1,600+ titles), the Standards Webstore for purchasing standards, and the Standards Subscription Service for ongoing access. Testing Services provide laboratory analysis across six engineering disciplines. Certification Services encompass Standards Mark (product certification) and Management System Certification (ISO 9001). Calibration Services offer industrial metrology across temperature, dimension, force, pressure, and electrical measurements. Additional services include Training (HRDC-accredited courses on ISO standards), Compulsory Standards Regulation enforcement, Trade Metrology Services, WTO TBT National Enquiry Point, Information Centre reference services, Facilities Hire, and Weighbridge Services. These services work together to support industry compliance, trade facilitation, and consumer protection across Botswana's economy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Botswana Standards (BOS Standards) National standards documents developed and published by BOBS covering quality management, environmental management, occupational health and safety, food, construction, textiles, and other sectors. Over 1,600 published standards available for purchase by businesses, government agencies, and standards professionals.
• Training Courses HRDC-accredited training programs on ISO and Botswana standards including ISO 9001 Quality Management, ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety, ISO 14001 Environmental Management, and ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security Management. Offered in classroom and live online formats to professionals and organizations.
• Standards Webstore Online e-commerce platform for purchasing Botswana Standards documents electronically with filtering by sector, ICS name, standard status, and legal status. Includes over 1,415 standard products and accepts debit/credit card payments.
• Product Testing Services Laboratory testing services in Chemistry, Microbiology, Textiles, Mechanical, Civil Engineering, and Electrical Engineering disciplines, accredited by SADCAS to ISO/IEC 17025. Tests raw materials, semi-finished, and finished products for conformity to Botswana Standards for manufacturers, importers, and exporters.
• Standards Mark Certification Product certification scheme allowing manufacturers to use the BOBS Standards Mark on products that conform to specified Botswana Standards. Includes batch mark and full standards mark options.
• Management System Certification Third-party certification of organizational management systems against BOS ISO 9001 standard, providing written assurance that management systems conform to specified requirements.
• Industrial Calibration Services SADCAS-accredited calibration of testing and measuring equipment covering temperature (thermometers, ovens, incubators), dimension (calipers, micrometers), force, pressure, torque, electrical, volume (micropipettes), time/frequency, and biological safety cabinets. Includes IR thermometer calibration.
• Standards Subscription Service Subscription-based access to collections of standards with automatic updates, change alerts, and multi-device access. Offers pre-built packages and personalized standard collections for organizations needing ongoing standards monitoring.
• WTO TBT National Enquiry Point National Enquiry Point providing updates on technical regulations and standards in export markets. Manages ePing alerts for WTO TBT/SPS notifications and responds to enquiries on technical regulations for Botswana exporters.
• Compulsory Standards Regulation (SCSR) Enforcement framework for mandatory standards on regulated products through market surveillance, inspections, testing, and compliance verification under the Standards Act and SCSR 2023. Includes registration of local manufacturers and service providers.
• Trade Metrology Services Verification and regulation of weighing and measuring instruments used in trade under the Weights and Measures Act No. 21 of 2006. Includes annual verification, enforcement, and weighbridge services for bulk weight verification of haulage trucks and trailers.
• Weighbridge Services Weight verification services for loaded or empty haulage trucks and trailers, operated at the BOBS Weighbridge on Ramakukane Road, Block 3 Industrial, Gaborone.
• Information Centre International reference point providing access to Botswana, regional, and international standards documents, technical regulations, and certification information for researchers, businesses, and standards professionals.
• Facilities Hire Conference facilities, press conference rooms, training facilities, breakaway rooms, business center, and cafeteria services available for hire at BOBS premises in Gaborone.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,600 published standards available through webstore
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OIML (International Organization for Legal Metrology)coreTechnology or IntegrationBotswana is a corresponding member of OIML, providing access to legal metrology standards and expertise.
• IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission)coreTechnology or IntegrationBOBS is an affiliate plus member of IEC, enabling access to electrotechnical standards and participation in IEC work.
• ISO (International Organization for Standardization)coreTechnology or IntegrationBOBS is a full member of ISO, providing full access to international standards development and expertise.
• SADCAS (Southern African Development Community Accreditation Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSADCAS provides accreditation for BOBS testing laboratories, calibration laboratories, and inspection body against international standards (ISO/IEC 17025, ISO/IEC 17020).
• Government of BotswanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBOBS is a parastatal under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry with mandate from Standards Act and Weights and Measures Act.
• HRDC (Human Resource Development Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHRDC provides accreditation for BOBS as an Education and Training Provider.
• Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MTI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent ministry providing oversight and policy direction for BOBS as a parastatal organization.
• Botswana Investment & Trade CentreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for promoting investment and trade in Botswana, potentially collaborating on standards awareness.
• Botswana National Productivity Centre (BNPC)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBNPC serves as a sales point for BOBS standards, extending distribution reach.
• Business Botswana (BB)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with business membership organization for standards promotion and awareness.
• Public Procurement Regulation Authority (PPRA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on procurement standards and regulatory compliance.
• WTO (World Trade Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBOBS operates the WTO TBT National Enquiry Point for Botswana, handling notifications and responding to enquiries on technical regulations.
• ARSO (African Organization for Standardization)coreTechnology or IntegrationBotswana is a member of ARSO, enabling participation in African standards development and harmonization.
• CGPM (General Conference of Weights and Measures)coreTechnology or IntegrationBotswana is an Associate Member of CGPM, providing access to international weights and measures standards.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• SGS: SGS is the world's largest Testing, Inspection and Certification company, directly competing with BOBS for enterprise testing and certification spend across Botswana, particularly for multinational exporters requiring globally recognized certificates.
• Intertek: Intertek is a global TIC major with broad testing, inspection, and certification services overlapping with BOBS's laboratory and product certification offerings, particularly for industrial and consumer product sectors.
• Bureau Veritas: Bureau Veritas is a global Testing, Inspection and Certification major competing with BOBS in laboratory testing, certification, and marine/commodities inspection, offering multinational account coverage that BOBS cannot match.
• TÜV SÜD / TÜV Rheinland: TÜV organizations are global TIC majors with testing and certification services overlapping with BOBS's electrical, mechanical, and management system certification offerings, particularly for manufacturers targeting European and international markets.

Regional players

• Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS): TBS is Tanzania's national standards body operating testing, certification, and standards development services within the same EAC/SADC framework, with comparable service portfolio and similar government parastatal status.
• Ghana Standards Authority (GSA): GSA is Ghana's national standards body with equivalent mandate for standards formulation, product certification, and market surveillance, comparable to BOBS in service mix and West African regulatory environment.
• Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON): SON is Nigeria's national standards body with a comparable mandate to develop standards, enforce compliance, and operate conformity assessment services across Africa's largest consumer market, with similar parastatal structure and regulatory enforcement role.
• Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS): KEBS is the national standards body of Kenya with a comparable portfolio of standards development, testing, calibration, and product certification services, operating under a similar statutory mandate and serving as a regional anchor for East African standards.

Direct peers

• South African Bureau of Standards (SABS): SABS is the national standards body of South Africa, offering an identical mandate covering standards development, testing, calibration, certification, and training. Most directly comparable peer given the shared SADCAS accreditation environment and overlapping regulatory scope in Southern Africa.

Others

• ASTM International: ASTM International is a global standards development organization partnered with BOBS, providing international standards content that BOBS resells through its webstore, making it an upstream content provider rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/BobsMarketing
• Facebookfacebook.com/BotswanaBureauofStandards
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/botswanabureauofstandards

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Botswana Bureau Of Standards