G/TBT/GEN/200  
 
21 September 2016  
(16-5007) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
UPDATE ON ARSO PROGR AMMES AND ACTIVITIES   
STATEMENT BY THE AFR ICAN REGIONAL STANDA RDS ORGANIZATION  
This document contains the statement delivered by ARSO  at the TBT Committee meeting of  
15-16 June  2016 under Agenda Item 4  (Technical Assistance ). 
 
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1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  In Africa , as in other continents, non -tariff barriers to trade (standards, technical regulations 
and conformity assesment) have become relatively more important for market access.  
1.2.  The role of ARSO, an intergovernmental body establish ed by Organization of African Unity 
(OAU, currently African Union (AU)) and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) 
in 1977, is to enhance the relevant programmes to ensure that the African Countries address the 
TBS issues to facilitate intra -African and global trade, as per the WTO TBT Agreement.  
1.3.  Since its debutant report to the WTO TBT Committee meeting in March 2016, as an Observer 
member, ARSO continued to implement standardisation and the related subjects in Africa with a 
view to highlig hting the challenges in implementing the WTO Agreement and facilitating both 
Intra-African and Global Trade.  
2  ARSO STANDARDS HARMO NISATION  
2.1.  There has been increased cooperation with regional and International Organisations to 
implement ARSO programmes on h armonisation of African standards, standards implementation 
and adoption of international standards.  
2.2.  Under the 2016 ARSO Calendar of events, all the 13 ARSO Technical Harmonisation 
Committees (THCs) Programmes have remained more active with Experts from al l Over Africa and 
different sectors holding harmonisation meetings:  
a. ARSO THC 02 – on Agriculture and Food Products : 27–29 April 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya  
b. ARSO THC 03 – on Building and civil engineering : 12–15 April 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya  
c. ARSO THC 05 on Chemic al & Chemical Engineering : 15–17 March 2016, Nairobi, Kenya  
d. ARSO THC 07 on Textiles and Leather : 22–24 March 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya.  
e. ARSO THC 13 – on African Traditional medicine : 25–27 May 2016, Kigali, Rwanda.  
2.3.  The harmonisation work is guided by the WTO 's TBT Agreement which influences the 
development of national and international standards, and national technical regulations. Annex 3 
of the TBT Agreement applies.  G/TBT/GEN/200  
 
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  2.4.  Various international standards have been considered for adoption by the Committees, 
awaiti ng approval by the ARSO Council during the  54th ARSO Council meeting in Arusha Tanzania 
on 20 June 2016.  
2.5.  Through the ARSO DISNET (MS SharePoint and the ARSO trade Web portal) the 
standardisation process is more open and transparent  
3  TRAINING, CAPACITY B UILD ING AND AWARENESS CR EATION  
3.1.  ARSO developed Training modules for ARSO Standardisation Training which already is being 
used in training by ARSO members and is also  cooperating with the Catholic  University of Eat 
Africa in Nairobi, Kenya  towards launching a master's programme on  Education about Quality 
Infrastructure.  
3.2.  For all the THCs meetings above, ARSO organised a one day TBT Agreement and the related 
issues training to create a greater awareness on the role of standards and technical regulations in 
the imp lementation of the Agreement.  
3.3.  ARSO together with the PTB - the Physikalisch -Technische Bundesanstalt of Germany and The 
Standards Alliance (a public -private partnership between USAID and ANSI) has organised a 
Standardisation Training for 26 African countrie s on "Implementation of standards for trade 
facilitation with a focus on conformity assessment systems to be held 21st June 2016 in Arusha 
Tanzania. The Training aims to create awareness among the standards officers on the link between 
standards and confor mity assessment and role on trade facilitation.  
3.4.  ARSO continued to highlight on the role of standards in trade in different trade Fairs and in 
the celebrations of the, World Standards, Metrology, Accreditation days  through publishing of 
relevant articles. F or example ARSO also highlighted on the role of the Service sector in the 
Africa 's economies, through a published article on service standards in Africa - "Making a huge 
difference in Africa " in the ISO FOCUS May – June 2016 Edition.   
3.5.  ARSO continued to pub lish a Quarterly Newsletter on ARSO programmes and activities and 
on various Standardi zation, Technical Regulation, Conformity Assessment and the related 
Technical Barriers to Trade. ARSO website ( http://www.arso -oran.org/publications/ ) 
3.6.  ARSO carried out it s 3rd African Standardisation Essay Competition among the University 
Students in Africa under the theme "The Role of Standardisation in Women 's Empowerment with 
regard to the vision 2063 ". The focus is creating awareness among the African youth on the TBT 
Agreement, the important role of NTBs in trade facilitation. A recognition and Awards ceremony 
will be held during the 22 nd ARSO GA events in Arusha Tanzania.  
3.7.  ARSO (member States) organised the 4th African Day of Standardisation under the theme 
"The Role of Standardisation in Women 's Empowerment with regard to the vision 2063 ". The 
national events were carried out in Ghana  on 19 February 2016; Zimbabwe on  24 February 2016; 
Kenya  on 30 March 2016 and Nigeria on 12 May 2016.  
3.8.  The celebrations are a precursor to the celebrations of the World Standards Day on the 
importance of international standards as a basis for Good Regulatory Practices and Conformity 
Assessment.  
3.9.  The Continental celebrations are scheduled for 22nd June 2016 in Arusha Tanzania. Some of 
the lined topics are:  
a. Implementation of Standards, Technical regulation and conformity assessment  - USA 
case;  
b. Implementation of standards in ACP Countries - Risk Analysis principles developed by 
Codex Committees: common and specific aspects, approaches to their application at 
national level.  G/TBT/GEN/200  
 
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4  GREATER ROLE IN TACK LING TBTS/NTBS IN TH E REGIONS OF AFRICA  
4.1.  Africa is focusing on the expansion of its market through deeper integration and increase in 
its Market and export -driven economies based on the vision 2063, and it s flagship project of the 
Continental Free Trade Area by 2017. In this ARSO recognises Regional Economic Communities 
(RECs) and the respective Quality Infrastructure protocols and Acts as building blocks to attain 
this. To achieve this:  
a. ARSO developed a Gu ideline for its cooperation with RECs which was endorsed by the 
RECs (EAC, ECOWAS, COMESA and SADC) during the ARSO -RECs consultative meeting 
of 25- 26 April 2016, Nairobi, Kenya where the RECs work plans were shared among the 
stakeholders . The meeting agr eed that:  
i. ARSO and RECs shall put in place measures to promote the implementation of 
Standards taking into account technical regulations and conformity assessment 
procedures.  
ii. RECs and ARSO should consider creation/ strengthening of TBT / SPS Committees at  
RECs level and continental level for improved participation in WTO work.  
b. In reference to the European Union Commission, ARSO recognises the role of the 
legislative Assemblies in directing policy initiatives in favour of standardisation and 
quality Infras tructure and market access. On this ARSO organised a one day session for 
the East African Legislative Assemblies Members in Arusha Tanzania on 3 June 2016 to 
sensitise the Legislators on role of Quality infrastructure in the TBT Agreement 
implementation, A frican economic development and their legislative role in ensuring 
better Quality Infrastructure in Africa.  
c. There are increased consultation between African Union and the African Quality 
Infrastructure stakeholders under the PAQI ( Pan African Quality Infra structure) forum 
aimed at achieving a coherent and effective common regulatory Framework and good QI 
practices to eliminate TBT/NTBs to facilitate intra -African and global trade.  
4.2.  The 8th PAQI (made up of ARSO, AFRIMETS, AFRAC and AFSEC) consultative meetin g has 
been schedule for Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire on 4 -5 August 2016 following the 7th consultative 
meeting in Nairobi, Kenya on 25 – 26 February 2016.  
5  CONFORMITY ASSESSMEN T 
5.1.  Agreeably, one of the main challenges facing the African countires is the variation i n 
Conformity Assessment activities (certification, testing, inspection and accreditation) practices, 
and standards used by different countries.  
5.2.  To harmonise the Conformity Assessment programmes in Africa, ARSO continues to 
strengthen its ARSO Conformity A ssessment Programme based on the WTO TBT Agreement 
articles 5, 6, 7, 8 and coordinated by ARSO Conformity Assessment Committee (CACO) comprising 
of Experts from 20 ARSO member States which is set to have a consulatative forum in September 
2016.  
5.3.  Currently ARSO is working on a platform for the establishment of ARSO Certification schemes 
for awarding the ARSO continental Mark of Quality to be awarded based on compliance to 
harmonised and recognised standards and encourage Mutual Recognition Arrangeents to fac ilitate 
croos border trade. ARSO is working with the DNVG -France in this initiative.  
5.4.  ARSO continued to engage members in in identifying standardisation gaps through survey 
questionnaires on Standardisation Training, THCs harmonisation meetings and activiti es and on 
conformity assessment within countries for better standardisation strategies for Africa to influence 
the implementation of TBT Agreement and facilitate Trade.  G/TBT/GEN/200  
 
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  6  FAST - TRACKING THE IMPLEME NTATION OF THE AFRIC AN ECOLABELLING 
MECHANISM AND SUSTAI NABIL ITY STANDARDS  
6.1.  One of the key activities identified under the African 10 Year Framework Programme is the 
need to expand the market access of African Products in regional and international markets by 
improving the environmental profiles of African products a nd establishing a mechanism that 
promotes their marketability.  
6.2.  The 12th Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), Midrand 
South Africa  had noted that "The Proposed launching of the African Ecolabelling Mechanism (AEM) 
under  the general Guidance of the African Union Commission and with a Secretariat based at the 
African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) is believed to contribute towards improving the 
environmental and social profile of African products and expand market  access for African 
Products ". 
6.3.  A Consultative Meeting of the Stakeholders of African Eco -labelling Mechanism held on 1st 
June 2016 at the Africana Hotel, Kampala, Uganda, tasked ARSO to fast track the implementation 
of the AEM . Targeted sectors are forestr y, fisheries, tourism textiles, leather, natural products and 
agriculture which are considered as key sectors that are of vital importance to Africa and whose 
market access could be significantly influenced by labelling programmes.  
7   ARSO GA EVENTS  
7.1.  Finally , ARSO welcomes TBT Committee members to join in the events of the 22 nd ARSO GA 
scheduled for 20 –24 June 2016 in Arusha, Tanzania under the theme, "the role of standardisation 
in the women empowerment in the context of African Union vision 2063.  
7.2.  With the r ealisation that development is as much about empowerment, participation and 
sustainability, the subject of empowerment of women has become a burning issue all over the 
world, with world leaders; African Governments; International, regional and sub -regional  
organizations making significant commitments towards gender equality and women 's 
empowerment.  
7.3.  The 2063 Agenda 's sixth Aspiration is "An Africa where development is people -driven, 
unleashing the potential of women and youth ".  
7.4.  ARSO recognises that often ov erlooked are the significant contributions that African women 
make to regional trade, crossing country boundaries to share goods, services and skills where they 
are needed. But challenges such as nontariff barriers, which restrict imports, limit their pote ntial to 
contribute so much more, not just regionally, but globally, still persist.  
7.5.  During the Assembly, on 24 June, the ARSO -ISO-RNF will hold a joint foum on Africa 's 
countries participation in international standardisation in recognition of the importan ce of 
intenational standards in the implementation of the WTO TBT Agreement.  
7.6.  Confirmed attendance include ISO Secretary General, CEN -CELEC Vice President, ANSI and 
ASTM International (USA) Officials, PTB -Germany, AFNOR France, CENCENELEC, WorldFish, Britis h 
Standards Institute, KATS Korea, African Academy of Sciences, Intertek, AFNOR, RNF, DNGVL – 
France, African Union, UNECA and RECs Officilas; African Government Trade Officials and African 
Countries QI Organisations.  
7.7.  ARSO notes the Apologies of the WTO D irector General for not able to attend and remains 
grateful for the best wishes for a successful ARS -Arusha 2016.  
8  FOCUSING ON ARS O WTO TBT COMMITTEE COOPERATION  
8.1.  Focusing on ARSO beyond 2017 with a review process to culminate on ARSO strategic plan 
2017-2022, ARSO reiterates the importance of its status as an observer member of the WTO TBT 
Committee and expects to continue playing a crucial role in the implementation of the WTO TBT 
Agreement in Africa and the ACP region, and remains open to cooperation with the WTO TBT 
Committee in implementing 11 of the Agreement, especially:  G/TBT/GEN/200  
 
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  a.  the preparation of technical regulations;  
b. the establishment of national standards bodies, and participation of these bodies in the 
international standardizing bodies;  
c. the establishment  of regulatory bodies, or bodies for the assessment of conformity with 
technical regulations;  
d. information on how to implement technical regulations;  
e. the establishment of bodies for the assessment of conformity with standards adopted 
within the territory of  the requesting Member;  
f. the steps that should be taken by their producers if they wish to have access to systems 
for conformity assessment operated by governmental or non -governmental bodies within 
the territory of t he Member receiving the request;  
g. the establishment of the institutions and legal framework that would enable them to fulfil 
the obligations of membership or participation in regional or international systems of 
conformity assessment.  
8.2.  ARSO continues to associate itself with the objectives and goals of the WTO TBT Committee.  
 
 
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