# Somali Bureau of Standards (SOBS): product standards and inspection

> What the Somali Bureau of Standards does, who leads it, its budget 2025 to 2027, inspections at ports and markets, and the Made in Somalia mark.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/institutions/somali-bureau-of-standards/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## What it does

The bureau oversees and regulates quality standards for products imported, exported, manufactured and used in Somalia ([US International Trade Administration](https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/somalia-trade-standards)). When Commerce Minister Mohamed Abdi Hayir Maareye announced its resumption, he described it as responsible for adopting and applying standards for imported and locally made products, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry ([Goobjoog News](https://en.goobjoog.com/minister-maareye-re-opened-the-somali-bureau-of-standards)).

It represents Somalia in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ISO lists its board as made up of representatives of several ministries, the Chamber of Commerce, and the agency's director and deputy director ([ISO](https://www.iso.org/member/8867946.html)).

For imports, it has contracted Bureau Veritas to inspect goods at the port of departure and issue certificates against Somali standards ([US International Trade Administration](https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/somalia-trade-standards)).

## Who leads it

Hawa Ahmed Hassan is director. At a national export expo in 2026 she said the bureau was ready to work with exporters and producers to certify products that meet international standards ([SONNA](https://sonna.so/en/somalia-launches-national-export-promotion-expo-in-mogadishu)).

## The money

In the federal Appropriation Act for 2027 as submitted to parliament, the body appears as "Somali Quality Assurance Agency", sub-head 031101 under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce ([Ministry of Finance, Appropriation Act 2027](https://mof.gov.so/storage/documents/2026/11/xihvtskp/Appropriation%20Act%20for%202027%20Submitted%20to%20Parlement.pdf)):

| Year | US$ |
|---|---|
| 2025 (actual) | 1,314,880 |
| 2026 (budget) | 1,463,216 |
| 2027 (proposed) | 1,493,516 |

All federal bodies' budgets are compared on [federal bodies and their budgets](/en/institutions/federal-bodies-and-budgets/).

## What it reports doing

- **Ports:** it seized substandard flour at Mogadishu port in 2024 ([Hiiraan Online, May 2024](https://hiiraan.org/news4/2024/May/196318/somalia_authorities_seize_substandard_flour_at_mogadishu_port.aspx)), and seized expired food imported from Turkey at Mogadishu seaport ([Dawan Africa](https://dawan.africa/news/somali-bureau-of-standards-seizes-expired-food-from-turkey-at-mogadishu-seaport)).
- **States:** it introduced the national quality policy in Kismayo ([Dawan Africa](https://dawan.africa/news/somali-bureau-of-standards-introduces-national-quality-policy-in-kismayo)).
- **Markets:** on 3 November 2026 its inspection teams visited the [Bakara](/en/economy/bakaara-market/) vegetable market after concerns about fruit and vegetables ripened early by methods that do not meet food safety standards. It asked the public to report produce suspected to be unsafe ([Dawan Africa, 4 November 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalia-to-test-fruit-ripening-chemicals-amid-safety-concerns)).

## The Made in Somalia mark

On 22 September 2026 the government launched a "[Made in Somalia](/en/businesses/somali-manufacturers/)" mark for goods produced in the country that meet required standards. Officials said 75 factories were operating regularly in Somalia, and the Ministry of Commerce said the country imported about US$9 billion of goods in 2024 ([Dawan Africa, 22 September 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalia-launches-made-in-somalia-mark-for-locally-produced-goods)).

## How the work is shared

The bureau sits under the [Ministry of Commerce and Industry](/en/institutions/ministry-of-commerce-and-industry/). Farm chemicals and crop inputs are checked by a separate regulator, the Somali Agricultural Regulatory and Inspection Service ([SARIS](/en/institutions/somali-agricultural-regulatory-and-inspection-service/)), under the [Ministry of Agriculture](/en/institutions/ministry-of-agriculture/), which in November 2026 said it would test chemicals used to ripen bananas ([Dawan Africa, 4 November 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalia-to-test-fruit-ripening-chemicals-amid-safety-concerns)). Medicines are regulated separately; see [medicines regulator](/en/institutions/medicines-regulator/).

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