Like the international community, the Togolese authorities celebrated the World Standards Day. This was the reason for launching the 5th edition of the Togolese Quality Award and informing people about the national quality label "LabQUAL". The official ceremony took place on Thursday, October 18, 2018, in the premises of the Free Zones Administration Corporation (SAZOF) in Lome (Togo), in the presence of ministerial authorities, representatives of institutions of the Republic, employers’ organization, the industrial and commercial sector, the business world, training schools and universities as well as consumer protection associations.

Supported by the West Africa Quality System Programme (WAQSP), this initiative aims specifically at raising awareness and informing the various components of Togolese society, mainly leaders of companies and production units in the region about the importance of standards and the need to use them systematically to ensure quality in offers and services. The National Technical Coordinator (NTC) of the WAQSP, Mr. James Lassévi Agbodjan Prince, reminded this to the participants before inviting the promoters and managers of restaurants, hotels, bakeries, pastry shops, hairdressing salons and others, to join the process of the national quality label "LabQUAL". The Togolese Minister of Industry and Tourism, Mr. Yaovi Attigbé Ihou, added that "a standard is a reference document that prescribes rules, guidelines, characteristics for products or processes and related methods of production. And that it is essential to disseminate best practices while avoiding new technical barriers".  According to him, this day offers developing countries such as Togo the opportunity to make people aware of the importance of the standard in all activities of human life. "Therefore, already in 2009, for the development of quality culture in our country, the Togolese government under the leadership of the Head of State, His Excellency Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe, has adopted the framework law on the quality and in 2015 and 2016, its implementing decrees ", he informed. Referring to this year's theme, the minister said that "today, standards are once again playing a major role in the transition to a new era that has already begun with robots, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, etc. " Finally, he urged all economic operators, at any level whatsoever, to invest fully in the dynamics of promotion and systematic use of standards, as well as to participate in the 5th edition of the Togolese Quality Award.

During the day, various communications were presented to participants on the following sub-themes: "the LabQUAL", "the benefits and constraints of the 4th revolution and the role of standards" and "the benefits for companies to enter in the labeling process ".

For this 49th edition of the World Standards Day, the theme chosen is entitled: "International Standards and the Fourth Industrial Revolution".