1.    Overview 

Providing Technical Assistance on the implementation of relevant standards to SMEs involved in agriculture value chains at primary production level is crucial to ensuring that agricultural products meet safety and quality requirements stipulated in standards, technical regulation, SPS measures and imposed by customers.

Technical Assistance provided by Zamukana Ubuziranenge Program RSB aims to enhance the capacity of SMEs involved in agriculture value chain for:

• Market access: Many international and domestic markets have strict standards; Technical assistance helps producers meet these requirements, opening up new market opportunities and increasing competitiveness;
• Sustainability: Standards often include environmental and social criteria, promoting sustainable farming practices that protect resources and enhance community welfare;
• Value addition: Understanding and adhering to standards can help farmers enhance their products’ value, leading to better pricing and profitability;
• Risk management: Compliance reduces risks related to product recalls, legal liabilities, and reputational damage, helping farmers and businesses operate more securely;
• Food security: By promoting adherence to standards, technical assistance can enhance food safety and security, contributing to broader public health goals.

2.    Key applicable standards

Most of the products from primary production levels including horticultural fresh produce, cereals, nuts, pulses and legumes been standardized. Moreover, I order to assist producers to ensure their products meet the applicable specification, technical regulations and market requirements, different code of practice those targeting reduction contaminants (mycotoxins, heavy metals, pesticide) in foods, pre-requisite programs (PRP) and management systems standards were developed. 

The list below provides applicable cross cutting standards identified as key for quality and safety improvement and are used when providing technical assistance to SMEs.

• RS 428, Good Agricultural Practices — Basic requirements
• RS EAS 456, Organic production standard
• RS ISO 22000 Food safety management systems — Requirements for any organization in the food chain
• RS 184, Food safety system management system based on HACCP — Requirements
• RS CAC/RCP1-1969, Code of practice — General Principles for Food Hygiene
• RS ISO 22002-3: Prerequisite programmes on food safety—Part 3: Farming
• ISO 22005: 2007 Traceability in the feed and food chain—General principles and basic    requirements for system design and implementation
• RS EAS 38:2013 Labelling of Pre-packaged Foods — Specification

Do you want to purchase any of the above standards or any other relevant standard including product standards (Specifications), codes of practice or guidelines applicable to your product(s) or process(es)? Please click on: portal.rsb.gov.rw

3.    Objectives of technical assistance to SMEs operating in value chains under the scope of agricultural products 

The prime goal for Zamukana Ubuziranenge (ZU) Program is to support SMEs in his journey toward different certification including: 

• System Certification (HACCP based on RS184 and FSMS based on RSISO22000) www.rsb.gov.rw/certifications/system-certification/introduction
• Organic certification 
• Good Agriculture practices (GAP) certification
• Warehouse and warehousing for bagged cereals and pulses certification 

4.    The list of certified clients, products and systems is accessible through:

• FSMS certified clients: www.rsb.gov.rw/certifications/directories/fsms-certified-company
• HACCP certified clients: www.rsb.gov.rw/certifications/directories/haccp-certified-companies 
• Organic certified client: www.rsb.gov.rw/certifications/directories/certified-saloons-1 
• Certified warehouses: www.rsb.gov.rw/certifications/directories/certified-warehouses 

5.    How to reach out Zamukana Ubuziranenge Program for more information or application for Technical Assistance? 

• For more information on technical assistance provided under ZU program, send us an email to zamukana.ubuziranenge@rsb.gov.rw  or call 3250,
• Do you have a complaint, an enquiry, please click on:  https://portal.rsb.gov.rw/contacts.php
• Do you want to apply for Technical Assistance, fill in this form: forms.gle/6WwEhdBSxT2HF2Sj7