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Edgar Vhera Agriculture Specialist Writer
IN response to the growing demand for standards and sustainability in today’s consumer-driven market, the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) has intensified efforts to develop crucial standards for both local and global consumers.
In an era in which adherence to quality benchmarks and environmental considerations are paramount, producers rely on the standards to thrive in the competitive farming landscape.
Speaking during a recent Zimbabwe Newspapers Limited (1980) organised smallholder horticulture conference in Mutoko, SAZ certification services director Mr Ranganai Mutonono said his organisation was spearheading standards development.
The conference was running under the theme: ‘Promoting sustainable growth and empowerment in smallholder horticulture – Fostering collaborative partnerships and resilient farming practices to achieve food security and economic prosperity in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) and National Development Strategy 1 (SDG1).’
“In addition to standards development and training, SAZ offers laboratory services in its chemical, food technology and engineering laboratories. We also offer quality assurance services under product and management systems as well as destination inspections,” said Mr Mutonono.
SAZ is a non-profit making organisation whose main functions are standard development and training. It is a member of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) and Southern African Development Community Accreditation Services (SADCAS).
The association develops and publishes Zimbabwean standards, promotes understanding of the standards through training, provide technical services for the testing of manufactured goods, raw materials and calibration of equipment.
It also encourages the use of Zimbabwean standards by operating certification registration schemes as well as providing information services on national, regional and international standards.
On behalf of the Government, SAZ provides World Trade Organisation (WTO) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) enquiry point on standards and conformity assessment information.
A standard is a document, established by consensus and approved by a recognised body, that provides, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results, aimed at the achievement of the optimum degree of order in a given context.
Onsite pre-licensing inspection by SAZ involves the following checks – in-house quality checks of raw material and final products, product traceability information, control and handling of non-conforming product, evidence of maintenance of monitoring and measuring equipment and customer complaints and feedback handling.
Mr Mutonono said among the benefits of certification are elimination of substandard raw material before it reaches production, provision of independent assessment, helps improve efficiency of operations and communication.
He said this would result in greater consistency, increase customer satisfaction and loyalty, facilitate credible marketing and international trade, as well as improve profit margins.
With over 2 500 standards, SAZ provides implementation and certification services for a wide range of sectors.
Horticulture export produce requires food safety and quality standards like global good agronomic practices (Global GAP) while the processing industry requires International Features Standards (IFS), British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Food Safety Standards Certification (FSSC) 22000 among others.
Horticulture export produce can only be accepted internationally if it meets all the set standards and certification, as well as sustainability in addition to other phytosanitary requirements.
Online Reporter