Quality and product safety in Sub Saharan Africa – challenges and opportunities By Ivar Foss, Ivar Foss Quality Management, Norway E-mail: [email protected] No.
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Quality and product safety in Sub Saharan Africa – challenges and opportunities By Ivar Foss, Ivar Foss Quality Management, Norway E-mail: [email protected] No. 1 My background • 13 years in Det norske Veritas, 5 years as Executive Vice President • Ivar Foss Quality Management established in 1987 • 11 years of consulting in CEEC • Last 3 years: Consulting on trade development in Africa. Clients: Sida, Norad, UNIDO, ISO etc. • Lived in Kenya for two years No. 2 The Sida/Norad strategy project The main report is available from Sida, see www.sida.se No. 3 African trade initiatives African Union: • The African Common Market NEPAD Market Access Initiative (2001): • Points out the need to increase value added in agro-processing and mineral beneficiation • Promotes development of the private sector • Give specific recommendations for removal of Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) • Sets objectives for agriculture, including food security, but is not specific with regard to Sanitary and phytosanitary Measures (SPS) No. 4 Trade areas Cape Verde Barcelona Seychelles ECOWAS ECOWAS and UEMOA Comoros SADC COMESA Mauritius Barcelona and COMESA SADC and COMESA No. 5 Vegetable export from Kenya HCDA packing and storage facility at Nairobi Airport No. 6 Testing laboratories Kenya Bureau of Standards, Nairobi No. 7 New solutions in metrology Mobile calibration laboratory for Mozambique No. 8 Objectives in three dimensions • Each country has to protect its own society against hazardous and sub-standard products, imported as well as domestically produced • Exporters have to comply with the increasingly demanding requirements in target markets • Complying to requirements is not enough – the products must also be attractive in the target markets. Supply side development is required No. 9 General and Targeted Strategies Domestic focussed general TBT/SPS structure Exportfocussed tailor made qualtiy infrastructure Awareness building Engagement and basic training No. 10 Creating awareness why is it so important? No change will take place until influential stakeholders are convinced of the need for change! No. 11 Two sets of strategies Defensive strategies • Regulate only when risks are significant • Limit national legislation; make use of international standards • Simplify conformity assessment procedures • Develop the quality infrastructure • Improve transparency Offensive strategies • Collect info. on Technical Regulations, standards and conformtiy assessment in target markets • Map market requirements • Develop a tailormade conformity assessment infrastructure • Develop quality as a competitive strategy No. 12 Ensure safe products on domestic markets - Laws and regulations - Standards - Market surveillance Domestic suppliers Tariffs and quotas Trade and industry policy Border control No. 13 The food chain approach for the SPS area Plant health Animal health Food safety Multidisciplinary approach IPPC OIE Codex • Scientific risk assessment • HACCP No. 14 The SPS infrastructure • Most African countries have not adopted the food chain approach. Present legislation is outdated • National SPS policies are absent • Responsibilities and resouces are scatted on many ministries (up to 6) • The infrastructure for testing and enforcement is weak • The risk analysis process is introduced only in special cases, typically for export • Most countries are members of Codex, OIE and IPPC No. 15 Standardisation in Africa • 14 full members and 16 associates or corresponding members of ISO • ~ 50 countries are members of Codex and OIE • 66 % of NSBs are autonomous government bodies • The NSBs have published few standards (< 150) • The distinction between standards and regulations is blurred • Participation in international standards development is low No. 16 The leapfrog strategy Consistent Effective International Simple Old problems and solutions New solutions No. 17 Regulations Mandatory standards Traditional approach NSB Government Legal act Government Traditional and new approach to standards The Reference to Legal act Standards Principle: Products complying Technical with the referenced regulations standards are presumed to comply Voluntary with legal requirestandards ments Reference to standards No. 18 The international model for regulatory harmonisation Country A Country B Country C Country D Common regulatory objectives International (or other agreed) standards National legislation Regional and sectoral structure Evidence of conformity No. 19 Harmonisation of standards ISO etc. ARSO (African Regional Organisation for Standardisation Regional organisation NSB NSB NSB No. 20 Recommended strategy for African standardisation • Introduce the Reference to Standards Principle and The International Model in legislation in order to promote regional harmonisation • Accept international standards for industrial products • Influence Codex, OIE and IPPC to take African concerns into accounts • Establish regional African scientific committees to support participation in international standardisation • Develop African regional standards for products and conditions that are specific to Africa No. 21 Regional development of conformity assessment services • Calibration services (industrial and legal metrology, proficiency testing) • Reference laboratories (chemistry and microbiology for food safety, animal and plant health) • Management system certification: Quality, environment, HACCP • Accreditation • Scientifically based risk assessment No. 22 Present products and markets Markets Products Commodities Traditional Local, Domestic Regional Africa Emerging Demanding Middle East India, etc. Europe, USA, Japan Agricultutal products Value-added prod. Processed agricult. prod. Textiles, leather, etc. A few success stories based on Just-intime strategies Minerals Metals, gems, oil/gas No. 23 Targeted Export Strategies Markets Products Commodities Traditional Local, Domestic Regional Africa Emerging Demanding Middle East India, etc. Europe, USA, Japan Agricultural products Value-added prod. Processed agricult. prod. Textiles, leather, etc. Minerals Metals, gems, oil/gas, etc. No. 24 The Just-in-Time Export Strategy Tariffs and quota Quality Price Availability SPS 1) SPS TBT 1) The target market Supplier. Produce and sell TBT 1) Conformity assessment MRAs Technical Regulations Standards and other non-tariff barrier No. 25 Quality as a competitive strategy Development stage Excellence Total quality management Quality assurance/management Statistical quality control Inspection 1920 1960 2000 No. 26 The important role of the NSB Standardisation: – Industrial as well as food safety, animal and plant health – Arm length distance, independence from government – Establish a good committee structure Other services: – – – – – Information centre, incl. WTO enquiry point Laboratory testing Certification services Calibration services, possibly metrology institute Training A national focal point for quality and product safety No. 27 Conclusions • Africa faces very large and multi-facetted challenges in the areas of quality and product safety • National policies should guide development priorities • Targeted and specific strategies are required in order to succeed • Regional cooperation is important for rapid development • Export development must be accompanied by the relevant conformity assessment structure • Both national and regional developments require technical assistence No. 28 How do you eat an elephant? No. 29