What is QMS Certification

A quality management system (QMS) is a formalized system that documents processes, procedures, and responsibilities for achieving quality policies and objectives. A QMS helps coordinate and direct an organization’s activities to meet customer and regulatory requirements and improve its effectiveness and efficiency on a continuous basis.

Benefits of quality management systems

Implementing a quality management system affects every aspect of an organization's performance. Benefits of a documented quality management system include:

• Meeting the customer’s requirements, which helps to instill confidence in the organization, in turn leading to more customers, more sales, and more repeat business
• Meeting the organization's requirements, which ensures compliance with regulations and provision of products and services in the most cost- and resource-efficient manner, creating room for expansion, growth, and profit

These benefits offer additional advantages, including:

• Defining, improving, and controlling processes
• Reducing waste
• Preventing mistakes
• Lowering costs
• Facilitating and identifying training opportunities
• Engaging staff
• Setting organization-wide direction
• Communicating a readiness to produce consistent results

Certification against QMS

What is HACCP (Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points, RS 184:2017) certification

Hazard analysis and critical control (HACCP) is a system which identifies, evaluates and controls hazards which are significant for food safety. It is an effective tool to prevent adverse health effects (biological, chemical and physical hazards) due to food contamination.           

HACCP is exclusively meant for companies preparing or producing food or medicines.  This varies from post-harvest activities, restaurants in hotels, schools, hospital, food processing units/ factory/industry, pharmaceutical industries, etc.

Benefits of implementing HACCP

Implementation of HACCP System:

• ensures continuous improvement of food safety
• creates good reputation to the organisation and thus boosts customer confidence
• increases business profitability
• enhances staff morale and loyalty

Certification against HACCP

apply for HACCP Certification

FSMS Certification

Following Certification Audit, this mark is issued to companies which, as stipulated in ISO 22000: 2018 standard, are implementing a Food Safety Management System in their operations.  Though this is only for food processing companies, the Mark is not displayed on any product. It is only used for company advertisement and     promotional purposes. It can be displayed on company`s letter header, brochures, banners, gate, and so on, but not on products.

What is EMS Certification

An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a framework that helps an organization achieve its environmental goals through consistent review, evaluation, and improvement of its environmental performance. The assumption is that this consistent review and evaluation will identify opportunities for improving and implementing the environmental performance of the organization

Benefits of implementing EMS

Implementation of EMS helps the organization/company to:

• address its regulatory requirements in a systematic and cost-effective manner.
• reduce the risk of non-compliance and improve health and safety practices for employees and the public.
• address non-regulated issues, such as energy conservation, and can promote stronger operational control and employee stewardship.
• improve its reputation and the confidence of stakeholders through strategic communication.
• provide a competitive and financial advantage through improved efficiencies and reduced costs.
• promote resource conservation
• attract new customers/markets
• increased efficiency/reduced costs
• enhanced employee morale
• enhanced image with public, regulators, lenders, investors
• increase employee awareness of environmental issues and responsibilities

Certification against EMS

Through National Certification Division, Rwanda Standards Boards (RSB),offers certification service against RS ISO 14001:2015 according to the established procedures.

The Mark is not displayed on products, (in case of manufacturing companies). It is only used for company advertisement and promotional purposes. It can be displayed on company`s letter heads, brochures, banners, gates, cars, other materials apart from the product.

What is ISO 45001

ISO 45001 is a standard, developed in the same way as other management system standards that emphasize effective, efficient and continual improvement. The standard focuses on the fundamental requirements based on the “plan-do-check-act” method. Organizations will have a wide range of benefits from using this standard. (not relevant to the standard no info about occupational health)

Benefits of ISO 45001:

A background to how your business could benefit from adopting this new standard

Globalization.

• ISO 45001 puts your organization in an elite category of business which will be internationally recognized

Improved business performance

• This can be created by reducing workplace illness and injury and costs which will result in increased productivity

Consistency and Best Practice

• Creating consistency and establishing “best practices” for occupational health and safety throughout the organization

Improving identification of hazards and Risk

• Improved identification of hazards and risk
• Demonstrating effective loss control can attract lower insurance premiums

Improving Safety

• Reducing accidents, incidents and downtime and improving the efficiency of operations
• Providing for the safety of all persons affected by the activities of the organization

Continual Improvement

• Promoting management oversight through monitoring and measuring of key performance indicators in health and safety
• Embedding proactive behaviours which focus on prevention rather than reactive post-accident remorse
• Encouraging continual improvement

Certification against RS ISO 45001:2018

Through National Certification Division, Rwanda Standards Boards (RSB) offers certification service against RS ISO 45001:2018 according to the established procedures

The Mark is not displayed on products, (in case of manufacturing companies). It is only used for company advertisement and promotional purposes. It can be displayed on company`s letter header, brochures, banners, gate, and so on, but not on products.

What is EnMS?

RS ISO 50001:2018- Energy Management System is an international standard that specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and improving an energy management system. The standard helps an organization to follow a systematic approach in achieving continual improvement of energy performance through devoting attention to energy efficiency, energy security, energy use and consumption.

The standard aims to help organizations continually reduce their energy use, and therefore their energy costs and their greenhouse gas emissions.

Benefits of implementing RS ISO 50001:2018

Any organization implementing Energy Management System :

• reduces costs,
• reduces the impact of rising costs,
• meets legislative or self-imposed carbon targets,
• Reduces risk – the more energy you consume, the greater the risk that energy price increases or supply shortages could seriously affect your profitability, or even make it impossible for your business/organization to continue. With energy management you can reduce this risk by reducing your demand for energy and by controlling it so as to make it more predictable.
• reduces reliance on fossil fuels, and
• enhances the entity's reputation as a socially responsible organization.

Certification against EMS

Through National Certification Division, Rwanda Standards Boards (RSB),offers certification service against RS ISO 50001:2018 according to the established procedures. The Mark is not displayed on products, (in case of manufacturing companies). It is only used for company advertisement and promotional purposes. It can be displayed on company`s letter heads, brochures, banners, gates, other materials otherthan the  products.

What is IMS Certification

Benefits of IMS Certification

 Certification against IMS

(ISO 27001

WAREHOUSE CERTIFICATION: RS 264: 2020 WAREHOUSE AND WAREHOUSING FOR BAGGED STORAGE OF CEREALS AND PULSES—REQUIREMENTS

What Is Warehouse Certification

1. INTRODUCTION

Warehouses are intended for the storage and physical protection of grains from the weather, prevention of the entry of pests and security. They also include materials and equipment required for inspection, drying, screening, sorting, grading, packaging and handling of bagged grain and storage pest control. The structure should be properly built to provide good storage conditions, easy access and safe working conditions, and should not provide harbourage for pests.

In general, the condition of grain changes slowly while in storage; the extent of any change depends on ambient conditions at harvest. Changes in moisture content and temperature are limited to the periphery of a bulk or to the outer bags of a stack, unless the storage period is prolonged or the grain is ventilated. Heavy infestations of insects, however, may cause a rise in temperature in the grain mass, possibly due to the development of fungi. Ideally, the warehouse should permit some control of temperature and humidity, to keep the grain cool, dry and at a uniform temperature as much as possible.

The objective of this certification is to provide confidence to industry regarding appropriate storage of cereals and pulses in order to reduce on the level of post-harvest losses incurred in these commodities. This certification as well will be invaluable in promoting the Structured Trading Systems (STS) in the region to promote both regional and international trade in cereals and pulses. The warehouse certification will play a major role in the implementation of the Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) and the Commodity Exchange in the region.

The storage of grains is normally done for extended periods in order to maintain a uniform supply of food for consumption, for the domestic and export market and to provide a buffer stock for contingencies such as drought floods and war. The storability of grains is affected by their temperature and moisture content. Either or both factors must be reduced to ensure conducive environment for storage. In addition to temperature and moisture, cereals and pulses are mostly affected by insect and other pests that may cause considerable losses. Grain losses caused by insect pests in Africa are quite high and vary from country to country and from region to region.

2. QUALITY AND SAFETY CHALLENGES IN GRAIN SECTOR

• Harvesting and handling practices

• Mechanical or physical treatments results in grain damage and fungal and insect infection.

Storage facilities

• Man-made facilities-Ibigega expose the grains to higher moisture facilitating fungal growth and toxin formation

Processing technologies:

• Lack of conventional systems resulting in poor quality products.

• Broken kernels, foreign matters, infestation, etc

Market systems:

• Open packages expose the products to further contamination (fungi, toxins and foreign matters).

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS? (RS 264: 2020 WAREHOUSE AND WAREHOUSING FOR BAGGED STORAGE OF CEREALS AND PULSES—REQUIREMENTS

• Location;
• Structure;
• Facility;
• Safety and Management

In line with Rwanda regulation:

Structure and floor:

• Adequately strong
• Elevated or constructed higher than the existing ground.
• Smooth, hard and easy to clean.
• Free from cracks where moisture from the ground may affect the stored grains.
• Concrete floored general warehouse space

Structure and doors:

• In sufficient number and of sufficient size
• Made in steel, if in timber the lower part shall be in steel
• The door shall fit tightly for insect control and fumigation

Structure and ventilation:

Moreover, poor warehouse conditions can create favourable environment for the growth of fungus responsible of mycotoxins including aflatoxins. Recent research conducted have revealed contaminations of maize, groundnut, rice and their derived products by aflatoxins above the acceptable safe limits.

To minimize these losses and mycotoxins contamination to the extent possible, post-harvest handling facilities should be well designed and constructed so that its structure and materials ensure maximum protection to stored commodities; well maintained and kept with a high level of cleanness; and all activities should be conducted properly so that they do not affect the quality and quantity of the stored commodities.

THE PURPOSE OF WAREHOUSE CERTIFICATION:

1. Third party attestation that a warehouse system fulfills the standard requirements;
2. Production of safe & quality commodity;
3. Customer confidence;
4. Competitive tool to access the market;
5. Remove barriers to trade;
6. Improve operational effectiveness;
7. Protect your brand and reputation;
8. Continual improvement

CERTIFICATION PROCESS IN RSB:

1. Fill application form;
2. Pay certification fees;
3. Desk audit (Assessment of documentation);
4. Full Audit (At the applicant’s premises);
5. Audit report;
6. Correcting non-conformities (if any);
7. Certification (3 years);
8. Surveillances (once a year);
9. Re-certification (3 months before the expiry date of the certification).

Apply For Warehouse Certification

What Is SALOON Certification

Benefits Of SALOON Certification

Certification Against SALOON Certification

What Is Good Agriculture Practices (Gap) Certification

The Government of Rwanda has established key strategic interventions through its National Strategy for Transformation (NST1), to develop and support priority sub sectors with high potential for growth and employment, crop produce and agricultural products, among others.

To support this initiative, Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) is organizing an awareness on Good Agricultural Practices Basic requirements standard (RS 428: 2020) providing basic requirements for all farming practices in a sustainable manner for maintaining quality and food safety of crop produce, to comply with, in order to compete on local, regional and international markets.

Agriculture remains the backbone for sustained economic growth in Rwanda. Currently, the agriculture sector constitutes around a third of the economy (Rwanda’s GDP), it accounts for just under half of goods exports. It constitutes the main economic activity for the rural households (especially women) and remains their main source of income. The agricultural population is estimated to be a little less than 80% of the total population of which women constitute 66 per cent of the agricultural work force. The sector meets 90% of the national food needs and generates more than 70% of the country’s export revenues. The contribution of the agriculture sector to the GDP has consistently been estimated at about 30% while the average Real GDP growth of the sector for the past five years was estimated at 5%.

The Good Agricultural Practices standard RS 428: 2020 addresses agricultural technicians and extension workers, producer organizations, rural school teachers, children, urban and peri-urban citizens and Family Agriculture groups in general.
What are good agricultural practices?

Concept

• GAPs and GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices) are a set of principles, regulations and technical recommendations applicable to production, processing and food transport, addressing human health care, environment protection and improvement of worker conditions and their families.

Who benefit from the gap?

• Farmers and their families that will obtain healthy and good quality food to assure their nutrition and nourishment, generating a value added in their products to access markets in a better way
• Consumers that will enjoy better and safe quality food, with sustainable production.
• The population in general, that will benefit from a better environment

Benefit of GAP Certification

• Security for people
• Environment
• Animal welfare Food safety

Security for people:

• Improve worker and consumer conditions
• Enhance the Agricultural Family welfare
• Improve food security

Environment:

• No contamination of water and soils
• Rational handling of agro-chemicals
• Concern about Biodiversity.

Food safety:

• Healthy food, not contaminated and of higher quality to improve nutrition and food consumption.

Animal welfare:

• Animal care
• Adequate feeding

What is Organic Certification

Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved.

Organic products are products originating from such a system. Certification is primarily certification of a production method, including the way the products from such a system are handled. It has been mentioned before that organic certification is now a market access tool, in the global market, especially where there is now a great distance between producers and consumers. The distance need not be geographic; it can be through ways of distribution. In such situations, organic certification up holds the confidence for the organic system.

Purpose of organic certification (RS EAS 456: 2019 organic standard)

• Provides third-party confirmation that an operation is in compliance with organic standards.
• Enables qualified producers and handlers to market agricultural products

Benefits of organic certification

• Building consumer confidence in the meaning of the organic label
• Fulfilling requirements to get or maintain organic certification
• Improving farm record-keeping systems and keeping up-to-date records
• Providing an opportunity to better understand organic standards
• Getting updated information about allowed and prohibited materials

Preparing for an inspection

• Review the standards
• Gather all documentation to allow easy accessibility
• Review the previous certification report
• Review the Internal Control System (ICS) Manual

Minimum requirements for crop production

• 3 years with no application of prohibited materials
• Implementation of an Internal Control System
• Conservation measures and management practices
• Use of natural inputs and/or approved synthetic substances
• No use of genetically engineered organisms (GMOs)
• Use of organic seedlings for annual crops
• Respected conventional period
• Maintenance of buffer zones

Application and Certification against Organic Certification

• Submit an application and an Internal Control System (ICS) Manual to the certifier, using the certifier’s forms and guidelines.
• Other documentation can be attached as requested.
• Submission can be via email and/or via post or courier delivery depending on the certifier’s request.

The organic inspection

• Done prior to initial certification, then annually thereafter
• A person knowledgeable about operation must be present
• Occurs where and when the crops, livestock, and/or processing or other handling can be observed.
• Covers all aspects of operation from primary production to exportation
• Exit interview is conducted at the end
• A copy of the inspection report is given to client for signing. The report is then submitted to the certifier.

Certification

• A certificate is issued if the operation is determined to be compliant under the applicable standards.
• The operation may begin selling its products as organic
• Product labels must identify the certifier
• Certified party should review the details of labeling and ask the certifier to review any labels prior to printing.

All certified operations must be inspected annually.