Madagascar - Country Commercial Guide
Standards for Trade
Last published date: 2021-10-17

Madagascar’s Standards Office (Bureau de Normes de Madagascar, BNM), is responsible for drafting, implementing, and enforcing standards in Madagascar.  It represents Madagascar in regional and international standards organizations such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the Cycle Engineers’ Institute (CEI), the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML), and the Codex Alimentarius.  When developing standards, BNM follows international norms, mainly those established by ISO.  BNM works closely with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Arts and develops dedicated national standards for some key agricultural exports (such as vanilla, cloves, litchis).        

PRONABIO (Natural and Organic Products), a local organization, has developed its own standards, called “NATIORA” to certify its natural goods such as vegetables, spices, and essential oils.

Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are required to report to the WTO all proposed technical regulations that could affect trade with other Member countries under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement).  Notify U.S. is a free, web-based e-mail subscription service that captures and makes available for review and comment key information on draft regulations and conformity assessment procedures. Users receive customized e-mail alerts when new notifications are added by selected country or countries and industry sector(s) of interest and can also request full texts of regulations. This service and its associated web site are managed and operated by the USA WTO TBT Inquiry Point housed within the National Institute of Standards and Technology, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.  Online registration is available at https://tsapps.nist.gov/notifyus/data/index/index.cfm.

Testing, Inspection and Certification

The BNM and the following testing laboratories ensure compliance in Madagascar: 

  • National Laboratory of Public Works and Building (Laboratoire National des Travaux Publics et du Bâtiment, LNTPB): certification of construction materials (cement, iron, etc.); study of road materials; study of soil in view of construction stability assessment; control of construction; description of maintenance works; training of engineers.
  • Antananarivo Laboratory of Chemistry and Microbiology (Laboratoire de Chimie et de Microbiologie d’Antananarivo, LCMA): quality control of food and agricultural goods, classification, and compliance.  Standards used are AFNOR, ISO, and the Codex Alimentarius. 
  • Chemistry Laboratory of Tamatave (Laboratoire de Chimie de Tamatave, LCT): quality control of agricultural goods such as coffee, vanilla, cloves, litchis, pepper, and essential oils; classification and compliance.  Standards used are AFNOR and ISO. 
  • Laboratory of Legal Metrology (Laboratoire de Métrologie Légale, LML): control and standardization of measuring equipment in the commercial and industrial sector.  LML reports to the Ministry of Commerce. 
  • Laboratory of the National Center of Research for the Environment (CNRE): analysis of environmental samples; monitoring of impacts of industrial activities of environment; scientific support to the industrial sector; control and analysis in the nutritional and food sector; scientific support to the private sector in product quality (shrimp, lobster, agricultural goods, etc.). 
  • Laboratory of Biochemical Nutrition for the Department of Zootechnics and Veterinary Research (LBN): chemical and microbiological analysis of raw materials for animal food. 
  • Laboratory of the National Center of Industrial and Technological Research (CNRIT): compliance in the following sectors: water, various chemical products, construction materials, civil engineering, and electronics.  It also provides technical support to companies. 
  • Laboratory for the Control of Pesticides (LCP): control of agro-pharmaceutical products and pesticides (local or imported). 
  • Laboratory of Microbiology, Water, and Consumables: bacteriological analysis of food, water, and medicines. 
  • National Laboratory of the Ministry of Mines (LNM): certification of jewelry and precious stones for export; LNM belongs to the Ministry of Mines. 
  • National Laboratory of Research in Telecommunications (LNRT): verification, inspection and certification of telecommunications equipment. 
  • National Institute and Laboratory of Nuclear Sciences and Technology (LINSTN): standardization of ionizing radiation detection apparatus; control of radioactivity rates and metallic presence in food; analysis of geological samples; detection of heavy metal; control of heavy metal in seafood and meat; quantitative/qualitative analysis of atomic elements in powder, solid, and liquid samples. 

Publication of Technical Regulations

Technical regulations and standards developed by the different laboratories are published in the National Gazette of the Republic of Madagascar.  If required by law, foreign entities can approach the different laboratories or related departments to comment on final regulations. 

Accreditation body and contact information:   

Bureau des Normes de Madagascar (BNM) 

P.O. Box 1316, Zip 101, Madagascar 

Tel: +261 20 22 279 70 

E-mail: bnm@bnm.mg