The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reviewed regional quality certification mechanisms to strengthen product standards, business competitiveness and trade facilitation across West Africa.
The review took place at the 12th meeting of the ECOWAS Conformity Assessment Committee, organised by the Commission’s Directorate of Private Sector and Industry as part of the implementation of the ECOWAS Quality Policy.
The meeting received support from the ECOWAS component of the Trade Competitiveness and Market Access Programme, funded by the European Union and jointly implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and the International Trade Centre.
The Committee reviewed applications for accreditation submitted by national certification bodies and drew up a “provisional list of national certification bodies that met the eligibility criteria to issue the regional ECOQMARK label for the relevant product categories”.
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It also reviewed and approved a regional programme for certifying the competencies of designers, installers and inspectors of off-grid solar photovoltaic systems. The programme was presented by the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency to support regional efforts to promote renewable energy.
Participants also discussed measures to improve compliance of West African products with voluntary sustainability standards, with a view to enhancing their competitiveness and access to regional and international markets.
The meeting emphasised the importance of positioning ECOQMARK as a “credible symbol of quality that benefits both producers and consumers, whilst strengthening confidence in products manufactured in West Africa”.
The Committee recommended that the Commission continue strengthening the technical capacities of certification bodies in Member States, promoting ECOQMARK and fostering a culture of quality across the region.
These measures are expected to support regional economic integration, increase intra-Community trade, promote industrialisation and competitiveness, and advance inclusive and sustainable development.
The ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Delphue Zuo, represented by the Acting Director of the Directorate of Private Sector and Industry, Peter Oluonye, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to building a credible, inclusive and effective regional quality infrastructure.
He said the framework would serve consumer protection, industrialisation, intra-Community trade and the promotion of West African products in international markets.
