PRESS RELEASE    

      
Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS) has concluded partnership agreement with Safe Food Africa (SAFOA) and the partnership was launched on Tuesday 17th April 2012 at MINICOM. RBS, the National Standards Body, is responsible for undertaking all activities pertaining to the development of Standards, Quality Assurance and Metrology in the country and facilitation of business growth through compliance to standards.  For the past 10 years, RBS has developed and adopted various standards to enable development of business at national and regional levels; and has established high technology infrastructure in areas of testing and Metrology to assure compliance to quality and safety standards Rwandan products. The RBS aims to establishing an operational internationally recognized National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) that will guarantee efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of Quality Standards and Conformity Assessment services for better public health and safety, environmental and consumer protection with eventual sustainable economic growth. To this end, the Bureau sensitized the Private Sector to join efforts in expanding the scope of standardization services.

The first respondent to the noble call of private-public partnership in provision of conformity assessment services was SAFOA, a private company which has come to develop Food Systems in Rwanda and the surrounding region. SAFAO will provide reliable laboratory testing services and technical guidance on process control with the goal of improving food safety, food security, health and nutrition, and economic expansion through improved trade opportunities.

The RBS/SAFOA partnership aims at establishing a working arrangement between both institutions to facilitate high quality conformity assessment services through accredited testing laboratories. It will also support attainment of an operational, internationally recognized NQI that will guarantee efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of high quality standards and conformity assessment services that guarantee public health and safety, environmental and consumer protection, all leading to sustainable economic growth anchored on good partnership between Public and Private sector institutions.

“The RBS/SAFOA partnership launched today will help us improve the existing Conformity Assessment services by providing technical support and guidance. It will also raise the Private Sector involvement in strengthening of standardization activities and harmonization of enforcement of national quality control systems. Development of a quality culture for the application of Quality Management Systems (QMS) in Public and Private Sector is envisaged and should lead to promotion of Doing Business in Rwanda. In addition, the partnership will help RBS to provide reliable laboratory testing services and ensure that food in Rwanda meets International Standards on safety and quality.

Shared expertise in Laboratory Management Systems and analytical skills will be paramount in ensuring our Profiency Testing”, argued Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe while stressing the importance of public and private sector partnership in delivery of standardization services.
The Food industry in Rwanda will benefit broadly from this partnership as it will create an opportunity to expand the testing facilities and capabilities and the initiative falls among the first steps of making the standardization One-shop Center whereby all services could be found in the same place to improve and fast-track service delivery, considering that SAFAO will be operating in the same premises as RBS.

For further details of this program, please visit our website: www.rwanda-standards.org or contact us on our toll free number 3250

PRESS RELEASE

Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS) and the British Standards Institution (BSI) launched TMEA- supported Twinning Project

Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS) and British Standards Institution (BSI) launched Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA)-supported project on Tuesday, 13th March 2012.  RBS was established in 2002 to undertake all activities pertaining to the development of standards, quality assurance and metrology in the country. Since its creation, RBS has aimed to provide top-quality services regarding standards development, quality assurance through industry inspection, market surveillance, import inspection and certification, testing, metrology services and awareness-raising. Standards are key to upgrading the quality of products and providing solutions for consumer protection, trade promotion and socio-economic growth of the country. They are also benchmarks for business growth as standards compliance promotes quality, opens door to broader market access and increases competitiveness leading to export opportunities.

In the spirit of ensuring continued economic growth and making a step further in fast-tracking East African Community economic integration, RBS is benefitting from financial support from Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA) to empower various standardization developments. The combination of both capacity building and implementation of the national Quality Policy, called for twinning with a highly advanced and experienced standards body to uplift the existing system and make the project successful. The British Standards Institution (BSI) was thereafter identified and chosen, considering its long professional history and success in international standardization interventions. The BSI Group has grown into a leading global business services organization, providing standards-based solutions in more than 150 countries, with expertise in helping organizations improve their quality and performance, reduce their risk, manage and protect their reputations, and help them be more sustainable.

Twinning Project with BSI
TMEA, the project funder, is a multi-donor organisation which promotes regional trade and economic integration in East Africa by working closely with EAC institutions, national governments, businesses and civil society organizations. It supports partner states to substantially increase the implementation of a comprehensive framework for regional integration while engaging the Private sector and civil society to positively influence regional integration policies and practices for growth in trade. TMEA is active in supporting the Rwandan Government, Private sector organizations and civil society organisations to meet their goals. It is against this background that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with BSI under the title of “Strengthening the Quality Infrastructure in Rwanda”.

The Twinning Program will help strengthen the Rwanda Quality infrastructure and implement the Quality Policy that was adopted by the Government in October 2010.

“RBS has registered good progress in promoting trade, public safety through quality standards development and offering conformity assessment services (inspection, testing, certification and calibration). However, there is a lot of room for improvement and this requires support by other actors and especially those with enough expertise. The twinning with BSI will upgrade RBS competences in all areas of SQMT (Standards, Quality Assurance, Metrology and Testing), leading to improved competitiveness of Rwanda products, regionally and internationally. Strengthening the Rwanda Standards Board will positively impact on Private Sector organizations as a result of standards compliance, a strong foundation to Rwanda’s continued economic growth and sustainable development”. Dr Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, Director General of RBS stressed while explaining the importance and outcomes of the Twinning Program.
The Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA) funded project will run for three years and is made up of two main components:

• Capacity building of the Rwanda Bureau of Standards (soon to become the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB)), comprising:

(a)    assisting the development of a 5-year Business Development Strategy for RSB,
(b)    professional training for the staff of RSB;

• Private sector awareness raising and capacity building on standards.

ITANGAZO RIGENEWE BANYAMAKURU

Mu rwego rwo kugeza ku baturarwanda ibyagezweho mu mwaka w’2010-2011 n’ibiteganya gukorwa mu w’2012, Ikigo cy’Igihugu Gitsura Ubuziranenge RBS cyagiranye ikiganiro n’abanyamakuru kuri uyu wa kane tariki ya 12 Mutarama 2012.

Icyo kiganiro cyayobowe n’umuyobozi Mukuru wa RBS,  Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, cyatangiye abanyamakuru berekwa ibikorwa byagezweho mu mwaka ushize birimo itangizwa ry’amalaboratwari atandukanye nka laboratwari ipima uburozi mu biryo (mycotoxin laboratory), laboratwari ipima peteroli n’ibiyikomokaho (Petroleum laboratory), Laboratoire ipima ibisigazwa by’imiti yica udukoko mu myaka (Pesticide residues), laboratwari ipima udukingirizo (condoms laboratory), laboratwari ipima imyenda n’impu, laboratwari zipima ubuziranenge bw’ibikoresho bitandukanye by’ubwubatsi nka sima, ibyuma n’ibindi ndetse na laboratwari zitandukanye zifasha mu kugenzura iyubahirizwa ry’ibipimo fatizo.

Nyuma yo gusura ibikorwa bitandukanye byashyizweho na RBS mu mwaka ushize, Umuyobozi Mukuru wa RBS yaboneyeho kumenyesha abanyamakuru ko mu mwaka wa 2010-2011 hakozwe ibindi bikorwa byinshi bitandukanye nko gushyiraho amabwiriza y’ubuziranenge mashya agera kuri 705, aya mabwiriza akaba yarashyizweho hibandwa ku arebana n’ibicuruzwa igihugu cyohereza mu mahanga ndetse n’ibyo gifitemo amahirwe yo guteza imbere ubukungu. Hibanzwe kandi ku guhuza amabwiriza y’ubuziranenge akoreshwa mu bihugu bigize umuryango w’Afurika y’Iburasirazuba (Harmonization of East African Community Standards) ndetse n’akoreshwa mu bindi bihugu mu rwego rwo korohereza no gukuraho inzitizi mu bucuruzi (Trade facilitation and remove Technical barriers to Trade (TBTs).

Mu rwego rwo gufasha mu kuzamura ireme ry’ubuziranenge bw’ibicuruzwa bikorerwa mu gihugu no guteza imbere inganda ndetse no gufasha ibicuruzwa bikorerwa imbere mu gihugu guhangana ku masoko mpuzamahanga,  Umuyobozi Mukuru yatangaje ko RBS yashyize imbaraga mu kongerera ubumenyi inganda binyuze mu mahugurwa yahawe abantu barenga 550 bava mu nganda zitadnukanye nk’izitunganya umuceri, amata, imitobe, icyayi, ikawa, ubuki, ifu y’ibigori, urwagwa na divayi iva mu bitoki, fromage.

 Hibanzwe kandi kuri gahunda yo guha ibicuruzwa ibirango by’ubuziranenge bibifasha mu kugera ku masoko mpuzamahanga, bityo ibicuruzwa bifite ibirango by’ubuziranenge mu Rwanda biva kuri 2 mu mwaka wa 2009, 5 muri 2010 bigera kuri 40 mu mwaka w’2011.

RBS yakomeje gukora ibikorwa by’ubugenzuzi bw’ubuziranenge bw’ibicuruzwa byinjira mu gihugu ndetse n’ibiri ku masoko y’imbere mu gihugu kugira ngo habungabungwe ubuzima bw’abaguzi. Mu rwego rwo gukumira iyinjira ry’ibicuruzwa bitujuje ubuziranenge, RBS yashyize abagenzuzi b’ubuziranenge ku mipaka itandatu (6) itandukanye.

RBS yafashije mu ishyirwaho rya Politiki y’ubuziranenge (Quality Policy, 2010) izafasha mu kuvugurura no kurushaho kunoza imikorere hatandukanywa inshingano zo gushyiraho amabwiriza y’ubuziranenge no kugenzura iyubahirizwa ryayo (non-regulatory and regulatory).

Mu rwego rwo kurushaho gutanga amakuru ku buziranenge, Umuyobozi Mukuru  yavuzeko RBS yibanze ku kugirana ibiganiro n’ubuyobozi bw’inzego z’ibanze, itangazamakuru ndetse n’ibyiciro bitandukanye by’abaturage nk’icyiciro cy’uburezi, hatangwa ibiganiro mu mashuri bijyanye n’amabwiriza y’ubuziranenge.

Iby’ingenzi mu bizibandwaho mu 2012:

• Mu mwaka wa 2012, RBS izibanda ku guteza imbere ubuziranenge bw’ibicuruzwa biha amahirwe iterambere ry’ubukungu bw’igihugu no guteza imbere ingano y’ibicuruzwa byoherezwa mu mahanga nk’uko bigaragara muri National Export Strategy.

• Hazibandwa kandi ku kuvugurura amabwiriza y’ubuziranenge ahari no guhuza amabwiriza dufite n’ayo mu Karere mu rwego rwo korohereza ubucuruzi.

• Mu rwego rwo kurengera ubuzima, kurinda igihombo abacuruzi n’igihugu no guteza imbere ubucuruzi buzira amakemwa, hazongerwa ubushobozi bw’abakozi na za laboratwari zipima ubuziranenge bw’ibicuruzwa.

• RBS izashyiraho Business Plan izayifasha gutera imbere itanga serivisi zihuse.

• Izashira mu bikorwa ivugururwa nk’uko riteganijwe muri Quality policy nk’uko byavuzwe haruguru.

Ibibazo byabajijwe n’ibisubizo byatanzwe:

Ku bibazo byabajijwe n’abanyamakuru bifuza kumenya icyo RBS iteganya mu rwego rwo kurushaho gukumira iyinjira ry’ibicuruzwa bitujuje ubuziranenge, Umuyobozi Mukuru yavuze ko kuva mu kwezi kwa Gasyantare 2012 hateganyijwe ko i gikondo ahanyura byinshi mu bicuruzwa byinjira mu gihugu abagenzuzi b’ubuziranenge bazatangira gukora amasaha 24 kuri 24 mu rwego rwo kwihutisha ubucuruzi.

Abanyamakuru bagaragaje impungenge z’uko bimwe mu bicuruzwa bikorwa n’inganda z’imbere mu gihugu biba bitujuje ubuziranenge, RBS isubiza ko inganda zacu zikiri kwiyubaka akaba ari yo mpamvu ibyo bibazo bijya bigaragara ariko hashyizwe imbaraga mu kongerera abanyenganda ubumenyi ku mabwiriza y’ubuziranenge. Mu rwego rwo guteza inganda imbere, Umuyobozi Mukuru wa RBS yavuze ko bashyize inganda mu byiciro hakurikijwe ibyo zikora.

Umuyobozi Mukuru wa RBS yasoje inama ashimira itangazamakuru uruhare rigira mu  gusobanurira abaturarwanda akamaro k’amabwiriza y’ubuziranenge anabizeza ko RBS izarushaho kwegera itangazamakuru, ikaba inafite “Communication strategy” izayifasha kumenyekanisha ibikorwa byayo kugira ngo iteze ubucuruzi imbere.


Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe
Umuyobozi Mukuru

 

ITANGAZO RIGENEWE BANYAMAKURU

Mu rwego rw’iyubahirizwa ry’ibikubiye mu itangazo No 934/RBS/DG/11 ryatanzwe n’ Ikigo cy’Igihugu Gitsura Ubuziranenge (RBS) kuwa 10 Kanama 2011 rikangurira abatumiza mu mahanga n’abacuruza insinga z’amashanyarazi kwirinda gucuruza insinga zitujuje ubuziranenge; hashingiwe ku bisabwa n’ibwiriza ry’Ubuziranenge ry’Umuryango w’Ibihugu by’Afurika y’i Burasirazuba (East African Community, EAC) ku ubuziranenge bw’insinga z’umuriro w’amashanyarazi (EAS 501: 2008, Conducters of Insulated Cables); ku wa kane tariki ya 15 Nzeli 2011 RBS ifatanyije n’ibitangazamakuru bitandukanye bakoze igenzura ry’insinga z’amashanyarazi ziri ku masoko mu mujyi wa Kigali.
Nk’uko byagaragaye mu magenzura asanzwe akorwa na RBS bikanashimangirwa n’ibyagaragarijwe itangazamakuru ku byafashwe bitujuje ubuziranenge, birakwiye ko abatumiza n’abacuruza insinga z’amashanyarazi barushaho gusobanukirwa ibisabwa n’amabwiriza bakirinda igihombo n’ubucuruzi bugira ingaruka ku muguzi.
RBS iboneyeho gutumira mu nama abatumiza mu mahanga n’abacuruza insinga z’amashanyarazi n’ibindi bikoresho by’ubwubatsi izaba kuwa gatanu tariki ya 23 Nzeli 2011 ku biro bikuru Kicukiro-Centre guhera saa yine za mugitondo (10h00) kugera saa sita (12h00).
Twiteze imbere, tubungabunga amagara yacu twirinda inkongi n’impanuka.
Bikorewe i Kigali, kuwa 15 Nzeli 2011


Dr Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe
Umuyobozi Mukuru

 

Public announcement

Announcement for importers and users of PVC insulated electrical installation cables.

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Public announcement

In conformity with the compulsory food safety standards RS CAC/RCP1-1969, Rev.4 2003, Code of practice-General Principle for Food Hygien and in compliance with annex 3 of the World Trade Organisation/Technical Barriers to Trade (WTO/TBT) agreement on the preparation, adoption and application of standards;
With reference to Instructions of the Minister of Trade and Industry No. 11/2011 of 06/06/11 on Rice processing and Trading;
Rwanda Bureau of Standards hereby announces that all persons who wish to establish the food stores shall meet the following Minimum Guidelines:

1.    Location must  be approved by REMA
2.    Must  be registered by Local Government Authorities
3.    Must have enough aeration (double; bottom and top)
4.    Must have nets in vents to prevent entry of rodents, birds and insects
5.    Must have pallets on which produce are placed
6.    Must have a minimum of 2.0 meters from the roof to last sack
7.    Must have documented and implemented cleaning schedule
8.    Must have pathways between stored produce(Stacks)
9.    Must have a documented and implemented FIFO Policy, without 
 prejudice to expiry dates
10.    There must be separation of different produce with clear 
Demarcation
11.    Internal walls must be made of  cement blocks, plastered and  
  painted
12.    The Floor  must be smoothly cemented
13.    There must be enough lights/illumination
14.    The roof must not be leaking
15.    There must be double entrance to allow folk-lifts(Optional)
16.    There must be slanting entrance (Optional)
17.    The staff must have a medical checkup every three months
18.    The store must have fire-protection gadgets
19.    There must be changing room for workers
20.    There must be basic first aid kit
21.    Toilet and bath room facilities must be in place
22.    Uniforms (Overall)for personnel working  in store must be available
23.    Nose masks and head gears for workers must be available
24.    White boots for workers must be available

Done at Kigali on 28th June 2011

Eng. Patrice Ntiyamira
Deputy Director General in Charge of Technical Operations

ITANGAZO

Mu rwego rwo kubahiriza amabwiriza y’isuku y’ibiribwa RS CAC/RCP 1-1969 Rev. 4 2003, Imigenzo rusange irebana n’isuku y’ibiribwa ndetse no kubahiriza ibiri mu mugereka wa 3 w’Amasezerano y’Umuryango Mpuzamahanga w’Ubucuruzi/Ukuraho imbogamizi ku bucuruzi (WTO/TBT) ku byerekeye gutegura, kwemeza no gukoresha amabwririza y’ubuziranenge;
Hakurikijwe Amabwiriza ya Minisitiri w’Ubucuruzi n’Inganda No.11/2011 yo kuwa 06/06/11 yerekeye itunganywa n’icuruzwa ry’umuceri;
Ikigo cy’Igihugu Gitsura Ubuziranenge kiramenyesha abantu bose bashaka cyangwa bifuza gukora umwuga wo kubika ibiribwa, ko bagomba gukurikiza ibi bikurikira:

1.    Aho bakorera hagomba kuba hemewe n’Ikigo cy’Igihugu Gishinzwe Kubungabunga Ibidukikije (REMA)
2.    Kuba azwi n’inzego z’ibanze z’aho akorera
3.    Aho akorera hagomba kuba hari ubuhumekero buhagije
4.    Gushyira utuyunguruzo aho umuyaga unyura mu rwego rwo gukumira ingugunnyi, inyoni, ndetse n’utundi dusimba tuguruka
5.    Kugira utubaho twagenewe guterekwaho ibiribwa (pallets)
6.    Gusigaza byibura metero ebyiri hagati y’urusenge n’ibibitse
7.    Kugira gahunda y’isukura yanditse kandi ikurikizwa
8.    Gusiga akayira hagati y’ibintu bibitse
9.    Kugira ihame ryanditse kandi rikurikizwa ry’uko ibintu bitangwa hakurikijwe ibyinjiye mbere, ariko nanone hatirengagijwe ibifite ighe kigufi kurangira
10.    Ibintu bigomba gutandukana hakurikijwe uko byakozwe kandi bikagaragarira buri wese
11.    Inkuta z’imbere zigomba kuba zikozwe n’amatafari ahiye cyangwa block sima kandi ziteye irangi
12.    Ubuso bwo hasi bugomba kuba busije neza n’isima
13.    Kugira urumuri ruhagije
14.    Igisenge kigomba kuba kitaratobotse (kitavirwa n’imvura)
15.    Hagomba kubaho aho kwinjirira habiri kugirango haboneke aho imashini ziterura zizanyura (aho bishoboka)
16.    Hagomba kubaho aho kwinjirira haberamye/ slanting entrance (aho bishoboka)
17.    Abakozi bagomba gusuzumishwa indwara zishobora kwanduza ibiribwa buri mezi atatu
18.    Ububiko bugomba kugira ibikoresho byo kuzimya umuriro
19.    Kugira aho abakozi bahindurira imyambaro
20.    Kugira ibikoresho by’ibanze byakwifashishwa mu gihe cy’impanuka (first aid kit)
21.    Kugira ubwiherero n’aho guhindurira imyambaro
22.    Buri mukozi ukora mu bubiko bw’ibiryo agomba kugira umwambaro w’akazi
23.    Kugira ibikoresho byo gupfuka imisatsi, ubwanwa ndetse n’amazuru
24.    Abakozi bagomba kwambara inkweto z’umweru zitinjirwamo n’amazi (white boots)

Bikorewe i Kigali, kuwa 28 Kamena 2011

Eng. Patrice Ntiyamira
Umuyobozi Mukuru Wungirije