RSB and ARSO Conduct Capacity Building Workshop on Eco-labeling
ARSO and RSB Conduct Capacity Building Workshop on Conformity Assessment Program Schemes for Sustainability and Eco-labeling
CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP FOCUSING ON AGRICULTURE AND TOURISM
From 6th to 8th March 2018 at CARI-Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) in collaboration with African Organization for Standardization (ARSO) conducts a three days training on African Conformity Assessment Program. This training is within the implementation of the pilot phase of the African Eco-labeling Mechanism (AEM) project. The project has been initiated by African Union and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) as one of the key activities identified in the African 10 Year Framework Programme (10-YFP) on Sustainable Consumption and Production, aiming to promote and brand the African products in order to access the current demanding market with regard to climate change, social and economic responsibility.
Photo 1: Participants from Rwanda, Nigeria, Mauritius and their Trainers
This training is attended by 25 participants from three countries, including Rwanda, Nigeria and Mauritius that shares Agriculture and Tourism as priorities. The participants are from both public and private institutions such National Standards Bodies, Certification Bodies, Testing Laboratories, and ministries with mandate releant to the above priority sectors. The objectives of the training is the equip the participants with hand skills that will help them train their stakeholders in their respective areas, conduct auditing and certification in accordance with the African Eco Mark on sustainability and Eco-labeling Schemes, in the areas of Agriculture and Tourism. In addition to these priority sectors for Rwanda, Nigeria and Mauritius, the scope of the project also includes Fisheries/Aquaculture and Forestry sectors identified as priority by other countries committed to implement the project.
Photo 2: Participants in the training
African Conformity Assessment Program aims at:
i) Promoting Eco- Mark Africa label in Africa for sustainably produced products and services
ii) Certification of products and services conforming currently to 4 sustainability and eco-labeling standards and later to include textile, leather mining ,energy etc
iii) African producers to access local and international markets for sustainably produced goods and services.
