The National Quality Control Laboratory was established as a semi-autonomous corporate body by the Pharmacy and Poisons (Amendment) Act, 1992. Under this act it is mandated to:

• Examine and test drugs and any material or substance from or with which and the manner in which drugs may be manufactured, processed or treated and ensuring the quality control of drugs and medicinal substances.
  
  
• Perform chemical, biological, biochemical, physiological and pharmaceutical evaluation; and
  
  
• Test, at the request of national Drug Regulatory Authority and on behalf of the government, of locally manufactured and imported drugs or medicinal substances with a view to determine whether such drugs or medicinal substances comply with this act or rules made there under.
  
  
• The Laboratory was commissioned in 1994 and since then has served as the technical arm of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board - the country’s Drug Regulatory Authority and dutifully carried out its aforementioned mandate.

• The examination and testing of drugs and any material or substance from or with which and the manner in which drugs may be manufactured, processed or treated and ensuring the quality control of drugs and medicinal substances.
  
  
• Performing chemical, biological, biochemical, physiological and pharmaceutical evaluation.
  
  
• Testing, at the request of the Board and on behalf of the Government, of locally manufactured and imported drugs or medicinal substances with a view to determining whether such drugs or medicinal substances comply with this Act or rules made there under.

• To ensure provision of quality services in the quality control of drugs and medical devices.
  
  
• Applying drug and medical devices related research and transferring the research outcomes to the government, health sector institutions and individuals.
  
  
• A testing ground for technologies and research findings.
  
  
• Supporting capacity development of drug and medical devices institutions.