Experts meet in Kenya to harmonize product standards in Africa-Xinhua

Experts meet in Kenya to harmonize product standards in Africa

Source: Xinhua| 2024-08-01 23:36:00|Editor: huaxia

NAIROBI, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- African experts met in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi starting Thursday to discuss ways to harmonize product standards on the continent.

The five-day 17th Intra-Africa Metrology System General Assembly and Technical Meeting brought together African Union (AU) officials and standards authorities from across the continent to promote the development of harmonized product standards.

Juma Mukhwana, principal secretary in Kenya's Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, said one of the reasons for low intra-African trade is the lack of mutual recognition of product standards by the different national governments.

"Similar standards will reduce non-tariff barriers for products made in one African country and sold in another," Mukhwana said. He noted that economic blocs such as the East African Community could accelerate the achievement of unified product standards.

Oswald Chinyamakobvu, a senior technical expert with the Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals at the AU Commission, observed that the continent adopted different product standards due to its colonial heritage.

Chinyamakobvu noted that the AU is keen to build African countries' capacity to undertake product conformity assessments that are in line with international standards.

Alexander Matlejoane, section head of DC Low Frequency and Radio Frequency at the National Metrology Institute of South Africa, said continental standards will also reduce transaction costs for traders selling across Africa.

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