It’s all about competitive advantage. Our mark is a symbol of Excellency and is a powerful marketing tool.

RBS mark scheme ensures impartiality and hence offers independent third party certification. A product bearing the RBS mark conforms to a specific Rwanda, regional or international standard.

Implementation of a management system is an essential part of the certification scheme as this is a basis for continual compliancy of the product.

Benefits

• The Mark is a powerful marketing tool for all manufacturers especially exporters. This eliminates the need for products to be re-tested;
• Displaying the mark gives a product real point-of-sale differentiation resulting in more sales and greater revenue;
• The Mark provides credibility when negotiating any contract especially government contracts as reflected in Rwandan regulation, exports and tender submissions;
• There is an improvement in complaints’ handling this cuts costs and increases customer satisfaction; 
• The certification scheme results in consistent quality of products as it involves the manufacturer's management system is maintained and is effective.

Certification process

1. The applicant fills the application form
2. The applicant’s application is reviewed
3. Submission of quality documents by applicant for desk audit (only required for E-Mark and System certification)
4. To conduct desk audit (assessment of documents) by RBS auditors
5. To conduct audit of the production line and take samples by RBS auditors
6.  Product sampling and testing
7. Audit report
8. Correction of raised non-conformities by the applicant
9. Certification (with validity of 2 years for product and 3 years for system)
10. Surveillance audits (3 audits for S-Mark, and 2 audits for E-Mark)
11. Market Sampling of certified products (4 samples are taken for S-Mark, and 2 samples for E-Mark)
12. Renewal of certification

System certification scheme

Rwanda Bureau of Standards provides system certification for organizations that are looking for independent confirmation of their management systems in operation as well as that of competence of personnel they employ or contract. The scope of system certification offered by RBS covers the following areas: ISO 9001:2000/2008-Quality management systems; ISO 14001:2004-Environmental management systems; ISO 22000:2005-Food safety management systems; OHSAS 18001:2007-Occupational health and safety management systems; Certification process Rwanda Bureau of Standards has designed   processes for certifications that are in line with professional rules and international standards.  The followings are the necessary steps:

• The applicant submits the application letter requesting for system certification to the Bureau;
• Upon contacting the Bureau, client is advised and informed about the main steps and processes associated with our certifications, as well as his/her obligations when applying for management systems certifications;
• The client fills the application specifying the scope of certification and pays the application fees;
• The client submits his/her management system documentation at least before 3 weeks of the audit date;
• Pre-audit;
• Initial and main audit;
• Licensing agreement for 3 years is signed;
• Certification granted and certificate issued;
• Surveillance visits to follow the continual improvement.

Downloads

Certification process flow diagram [pdf, 80KB]

Certification Quality Policy [pdf, 27KB]

Policy on impartiality [pdf, 27KB]

Policy to safeguard confidentiality [pdf, 27KB]

Directory of certified products with E-Mark [pdf, 70KB]

Directory of certified products with S-Mark [pdf, 165KB]

Directory of certified systems [pdf, 27KB]

Application form for system certification [pdf, 46KB]

E-Mark Application form [pdf, 70KB]

S-Mark application form [pdf, 70KB]

RBS new Certification charges [pdf, 25KB]