MADE-IN-RWANDA products will   now find it easier to enter and compete in the international market following the accreditation of Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) food safety certification schemes by Dutch Accreditation Council (RVA), an internationally recognized standards accreditation body. 

Speaking on accreditation acquired and its importance and impact on manufacturers and consumers in Rwanda,  Raymond Murenzi the Director General of RSB assured that RSB received the accreditation to attest the competence in carrying out certification for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS or ISO 22000) last year, on October26th, 2017. This achievement was a result of a process, delivered through support by Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA), and project technically managed by the British Standards Institution (BSI). Rwanda Standards Board is now accredited to carry out certification HACCP and FSMS, or ISO 22000.

“Despite the fact that we were certifying companies in Rwanda, it was important that we get that accreditation from a very recognized international body. This is an opportunity for Rwanda to move faster towards economic prosperity because with this accreditation, it has made it easier for Rwandan products to enter and compete in the international market” says Murenzi.

According to Murenzi, the two; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS, or ISO22000) are very important if Made in Rwanda products are to be trusted locally and also if they are to gain access and compete favorably on to foreign markets. “With the certification, food products from Rwanda with the RSB mark can now with a lot of trust gain entry into the European and global markets thus growing and expanding trade for the country” says Murenzi.

HACCP is a widely sought-after certification in the food production, processing and handling industry, including establishments such as restaurants, hotels, catering, abattoirs, fruit juice and vegetable processors and pack-houses. When goods are certified under HACCP, the certification assures buyers and consumers that food has been processed and handled in an environment that minimizes the risk of food poisoning and the spread of food-borne infection. Certifying process is a continuous process not a one off and RSB continues monitoring those companies in the food processing to systemically identify, address and monitor food safety risks that may occur within the food handling process.

On its part, FSMS (ISO 22000) is an internationally recognized, auditable standard applied to ensure that food is safely handled through the value chain. It includes and goes beyond the HACCP principles. Murenzi noted that previously, local companies were facing a lot of difficulty in getting certification from internationally recognized bodies because it was expensive to transport the team of experts, accommodate and to pay for the certificate plus the time it took to acquire it.

“Having acquired accreditation for these two certification schemes, local companies are going to find it cheaper to get certification of the Made in Rwanda products which will also encourage other uncertified companies to also come to us for certification now that we too are internationally recognized”.

New businesses that will be seeking HAACP and FSMS certification are assured of the internationally recognized competence of RSB to offer this service. Accreditation of food safety certification services will help boost the tourism industry supports exports from Rwanda, local industry growth and is helping the country’s efforts in improving the health of citizens through minimizing of unsafe food.  As per the Director General, many local companies that had sought to be certified by foreign bodies have turned back to RSB for certification after the National Standards Body got accredited and RSB expects many others to follow suite.

Standards compliance promotes quality, opens doors to broader market access and increases competitiveness leading to export opportunities. Accreditation of certification services and getting more Made in Rwanda products certified is meant to contribute in promoting Rwanda’s trade and socio-economic growth.