Today, DG/RBS has held Press Conference to capture annual achievements of the Bureau and way forward in the year 2013/2014: Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS) mandate is to promote trade, protect consumers (fair trade, health and safety) and safeguard the environment through prevention of dumping of dangerous substances. This mandate is achieved through the development and effective application of standards in conformity assessment (inspection, testing and certification) and Metrology. RBS contributes to the government of Rwanda Vision 2020, Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS) and Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) through the development and implementation of priority standards, specifically products quality and safety standards. RBS also offers conformity assessment (quality inspections, quality testing) and metrology, services for both locally produced and imported products; all geared towards economic growth, public safety and health and, the integrity of the environment. Vision The vision of RBS is to be a trusted party in providing internationally recognized and customer suited standardization services. Mission To provide standards based solutions for Consumer Protection and Trade promotion for socio-economic growth in a safe and stable environment. The key achievements for the year 2012/2013 are highlighted in terms of outputs as measured against the planned activities: STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES During the year 2012/13 RBS reviewed 124 standards for purposes of determining the relevance of existing standards in matters pertaining to test methods, change in technology or update of scientific aspects obtained from research on particular products. Standards reviewed were in areas of food and agriculture, chemistry and pharmaceutical products, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering standards as well as Service standards. Standards Development Innovation from research and development constantly contributes to development of new products and therefore creating the need to develop new standards to enable quality products to be realized on the market. This year the number Of Standards developed was eighty three (83). Target for the number of standards developed were exceeded because Standards Unit focused on the development of safety standard including fire safety standards. Standards Harmonization Rwanda is in part of the East African community where standards, metrology and conformity assessment aspects are a key ingredient in the harmonization process so as to facilitate access to the regional market by partner state products. The number of standards harmonized at the regional level was one hundred sixty five (165) Standard Education Activities (Training) These (18) trainings focused on standards implementation for the following: • Milk and milk products, Juice, Jam making, export requirements, mycotoxins, mushroom processing and hygiene, cassava flour milling processes code of food hygiene, processing of hides and skins, • Also the Utilities Company EWSA and Ruliba clays were trained on four systems standards ISO 9001;2008, ISO/TR 10013, ISO 19011:2011, ISO 9004 in preparation of systems certification. Information and Documentation • Standards Unit in the information and documentation section facilitates the sale of Standards to the general public. This enables various stakeholders to be able to use standards in their businesses. In the year 2012-2013, eight hundred thirty seven (837) standards were sold. Standards usage is another measure of changing attitude of RBS stakeholders in consuming the standards products. • This indicated an increase to seven hundred thirty three (733) compared to the target of three hundred seventy four (374) an indication of the growing standards knowledge and understanding of the business community in Rwanda’s economy. CERTIFICATION OF PRODUCTS Certification of new products gives assurance that products are of good quality and also facilitates access to market by these products. This year fifty four new (54) products were added to the portfolio of certified products. Fourteen products were recertified. The total number of national products certified has increased to one hundred nineteen (119). New certified and recertified products cover the areas of: Milk and Milk products Wheat, Maize, Cassava, and Sosoma Flours, Coffee in various forms, Tea, Mineral and Drinking Water, Macadamia, Juices, Honey, Cement, Roofing Sheets and Cosmetics. 1. TESTING LABORATORIES UNIT (TESTING PARAMETERS INCREASED) • Testing services to support doing business in the country were offered with 2,746 samples (530 samples in material testing, 754 samples in food laboratories, 224 samples in organic laboratories, 554 samples in inorganic laboratories) from imports and industrial inspections tested. • Accelerated accreditation through Correction of non-conformities and Quality of test results was the target for the financial year 2012-2013. Documents were reviewed as recommended by BSI consultant and an external assessment also done by BSI consultant. Other accreditation activities carried out were EAC and 10 rounds of FAPAS PT, 3 internal audits and one review meeting was conducted. • RBS laboratories have also participated in international Proficiency Testing (PT) Analysis in various matrices including foods, drinks and construction materials. This continues to enable the benchmarking activities between RBS and other institutions with similar mandate both in the region and beyond. 2. METROLOGY UNIT (CALIBRATION PARAMETERS INCREASED) • Metrology being a science of measurements has now the capability of doing work in 17 parameters as follows; Tension and compression in Force laboratory, weights and Balances in Mass Laboratory, Temperature sensors and temperature controllers in Temperature Laboratory, Pressure gauges in Pressure laboratory, pH and energy meters in electricity laboratory, big and small volume measuring instruments in volume laboratory, vernier calipers and micro-meter screw gauges in Dimensions laboratory, verification of trade instruments, prepackage control and water meters in flow laboratory which was a major establishment in this financial year 2012-2013. • The newly added scope was in Water flow meters, Force lab for calibration of Universal testing Machine (construction materials), Tape Measure Comparator for calibration meters for dimensions, dip sticks etc and Mass (F1) for weights (1mg-10mg). • The Unit was involved in calibration activities in which1,013 equipment for the industry were calibrated. This contributes to the realization of quality products and services in manufacturing, Health sector hotels and tourism industry. • The Unit was also involved in verification of 4,730 equipment which in turn facilitates fair trade and consumer protection. • The Unit carried out pre-package activities which involve determining the accuracy of the net weight of products. One hundred three (123) products on the market were checked for pre-packaging requirements. • The Unit also participated in three (3) inter-comparison activities in Temperature, Mass and Volume laboratories. This activity enables comparison of capabilities of participating Metrology Institutes in the region. • Metrology Unit members were involved in training various stakeholders that include Clay products manufactures, Utility company EWSA among others. This is in-line with the continual improvement of SQMT activities in the country. 3. QUALITY ASSURANCE (INSPECTION AND SURVEILLANCES CARRIED OUT) • During the financial year industrial inspection activities were carried out and the following product clusters were inspected in preparation for future certification: Cassava leaf cluster; Cassava flour cluster; Palm oil; Sunflower oil; Banana wine; Essential oils; Maize meal cluster; Gin cluster; Fruit quash cluster; Milled rice cluster; Milk cluster/yoghurt; Food flavours; Peanut butter; Carbonated beverage cluster; Mineral water cluster; Roasted ground nuts; White sugar; Fruit nectar/passion fruit Pineapple; Dried pineapple fruits; Macadamia nuts; Soaps/bar and liquid. • During the financial year quality assurance activities were carried out. Inspected consignments: 50,255 consignments were inspected. (Rejected consignments: 18 that consisted of Human medicines, clothes, electrical and electronics, cosmetics, foods, detergents among others, Collected samples: 279, Re-exported: 14 consignments; Destroyed: 13 consignments at Nduba landfill). • Inspection on the local market was done in various product categories; Body lotions (8 brands), Bread (20 brands), Honey ( 8 brands), Imported Cheese (24 brands), Fuels (EPR/ENGEN, KOBIL and GAPCO), 9 samples of both gasoline and diesel, Toilet papers (8 brands), Paints (9 brands), Banana wines (8 brands). • 9 complaints were successfully handled and these involved palm oil, juices, nestle powder milk, Unilever powder detergent and Royco Mchuzi, Akabanga pepper, Carrefour bread, Hema Ltd and Banana wine makers. They involved expired goods on shelves, miss use of RBS logo, counterfeit products and defective packaging. Compliance with Compulsory Standards In July 2013, the Government of Rwanda declared some health and safety standards “Mandatory” and published them in the Official Gazette. Those standards fall under the sectors of food and agriculture, chemistry and consumer products, engineering What are the implications? Individuals, corporate body or business enterprise shall not manufacture, import, export or sell the commodity and product covered by compulsory standards regulated by these instructions without providing a proof of compliance to essential requirements of the standard to the competent authority. A proof of compliance shall be: • A certification mark issued by a Recognized Certification body; • A certificate of analysis issued by a Recognized Testing Body; or • A test report issued by a Recognized Testing Body.
Posted on: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 13:22:07 +0000
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