QSAE - Quality and Standards Authority of Ethiopia

QSAE Laboratory Gets International Accreditation Certificate for Mass and Temperature Calibration

The Quality and Standards Authority of Ethiopia (QSAE) received an international accreditation certificate from the German Accreditation Service (DKD) at the handing over ceremony held at the Head office of QSAE, on Thursday August 2, 2007, Addis Ababa. During the ceremony, H.E Dr. Kebede Worku, State Minster of Health and member of Standards and Certification Council said that the accreditation of QSAE at this moment is a cornerstone for effective customers’ needs satisfaction such as provision of quality services on Mass and Temperature Calibration. On the handing over ceremony, Ato Mesai Girma, Director General of QSAE stated that the certificate enables the Authority to be recognized internationally on Mass and Temperature Calibration. He indicated that the accreditation certificate, which is the first in the accreditation history of QSAE, and the country, would help to identify substandard products that impede the national economy of the country. After handing over the certificate, Mr. Stefan Wallerath, German Metrology Institute (PTB) Project coordinator for Africa and Asian countries, on his part said that ensuring quality and standard is a fundamental issue for promoting the country’s export in international trade relations. He also noted that accrediting QSAE internationally on Mass and Temperature Calibration was made after two- to-three year intensive activities and would also take years for genuine viability of QSAE accreditation certificate. Ato Wondwosen Fisseha, Head of QSAE Calibration Laboratories, stated that the accreditation certificate is not a mere award but a valid certificate that recognizes the international accreditation of the calibration laboratory on Mass and Temperature Calibration.

Food Safety Management System Vital to Food Safety

A training seminar on food safety management system was held at Quality and Standards Authority of Ethiopia (QSAE) on July 9-20/2007, July 16-20/2007 and July 30-03 August/2007 with various participants from management, consultants and experts of QSAE. On the opening of the training seminar, Ato Deresa Fufa, Director of Quality Certification Directorate, noted that the seminar would create awareness on food manufacturers, and experts to enable them safeguard the safety, health and quality of food for the entire satisfaction of consumers’ needs in particular and for the well being of the society in general. He stressed that food safety is related to the presence of food-born hazards in food at the point of consumption for food safety hazards can occur at any stage of the food chain. To avoid this problem, adequate control throughout the food chain is essential. Ms Anya Knoteze, an expert of South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) delivered trainings to the participants on food safety management system principles and practices. She said that food safety is ensured through the combined efforts of all parties. The seminar helped raise awareness of benefits of food quality, food safety and hygiene starting from raw materials to final products via extensive implementation of food safety management elements such as interactive communication, system management, prerequisite programmes and HACCP principles.

National Consultative Meeting Conducted on Dairy and Maize Standards

As per the decision made on the Third Committee Meeting of Standardization Quality Assurance (SQA) of the COMESA held in Nairobi, Kenya, a national consultative meeting on dairy and maize standards harmonization was held at the Head Office of Quality and Standards Authority of Ethiopia (QSAE) 26-28 February 2007. Ato Legese Gebre, an expert on standards development and coordinator of the national program, welcomed the participants on behalf of QSAE and said the primary objectives of the meeting is to obtain the inputs of stakeholders at the national level and to deliberate on the Harmonization of Dairy and Maize Standards to be used by all members of COMESA when they are fully adopted. At the national meeting, representatives of QSAE, Agricultural Research Institute, Ethiopian Grain Trade Enterprise, Ethiopia Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Ethiopian Crop Science Society, Ministry of Trade and Industry and FAFA Food Share Company participated for effective harmonization of standards on dairy and maize products. Dr. Kipkirui Langat and Mr Irwin Forman represented the RATES (Regional Agricultural Trade Expansion Service) of COMESA and Land O' Lake International respectively.

Council Approved 1019 Standards

The Standards and Certification Council of QSAE approved 1019 Ethiopian Standards as its meeting held on 29 December 2006. The standards approved are in the fields of flowers, edible salt, infant food, textiles, electric equipment and the like. With these newly approved standards,the total number of Ethiopian standards reaches 6972. This figure makes Ethiopia among one of the major African countries in developing many standards.