The Gambia Component of the West Africa Competitiveness Programme (Wacomp-GM) has held a two-day virtual awareness raising training on ISO/IEC 17025:2017 on Monday 13th December 2021 and Tuesday 14th December 2021.
Twelve conformity assessment technicians drawn from the Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA), The Gambia Standards Bureau (TGSB) and National Agricultural Research Institute (Nari) were trained on the General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories.
Funded by the European Union, the Wacomp-GM project is aiming to increase competitiveness in The Gambia through enhanced quality compliance along the onion value chain, thereby strengthening the country’s competitiveness and enhancing its integration into the regional and international trading systems.
The project is the Gambian component of the broader Wacomp which is funded through a 116-million-euro contribution under the 11th European Development Fund. This programmatic initiative between the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), and the European Union with the support of the West Africa Economic and Monetary Union Commission (UEMOA) includes one regional component and 16 country components, including The Gambia with an amount of 4 million € and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (Unido) and United Purpose (UP).
The National Technical Coordinator of Wacomp-GM, Mr Joseph Ndenn, said the training introduced the participants to the international standard to be met by testing laboratories seeking accreditation: ISO/IEC 17025: 2017. He added that the training marks the beginning of the implementation of the mutually agreed roadmap to accreditation agreed between Unido and the management of the three beneficiary institutions of the project, TGSB, FSQA and NARI.
“My expectations from the participants are that they will utilise the knowledge gained and share with their colleagues as the training was a privilege and rare opportunity,” he said.
The co-facilitator of the training, Unido expert on Quality Infrastructure (QI) Prof Dr Adalberto Vieira, said that ensuring reliable laboratory results is key to demonstrating compliance with the required regulations and be able to provide recognisable conformity assessment services to companies and other value chain agents aiming to access and remain in new reference markets.
“The awareness training will contribute to the acquisition of knowledge on ISO/IEC 17025:2017 of technicians linked to The Gambian quality infrastructure, with special emphasis on those related to the onion and alike horticultural products’ value-chain conformity assessment,” said Prof Dr Vieira.
A participant, Marie Mendy, who is also the principal conformity assessment officer of TGSB, expressed gratitude to the project for facilitating such a significant training. “The knowledge acquired, and lessons learnt during the awareness training will greatly assist us, as laboratory personnel, in the implementation of ISO/IEC 17025 requirements,” she concluded.
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 specifies the general requirements for the competence, impartiality, and consistent operation of laboratories. It is applicable to all organisations performing laboratory activities, regardless of the number of personnel. Laboratory customers, regulatory authorities, organisations, and schemes using peer-assessment, accreditation bodies, and others, use ISO/IEC 17025:2017 in confirming or recognising the competence of laboratories.
