Supported by the WAQSP, the Republic of Togo has taken steps to accelerate the technical work to set up a national product certification service, in accordance with the action plan of its National Quality Policy (PNQ). This was at the end of the works that took place, from February 28 to March 1, 2019, in the premises of the Free Zone Administration Corporation (SAZOF) in Lomé. Several stakeholders and actors in the industry and quality sector took part in the diagnostic and sensitization activities conducted by the UNIDO expert, Mr. Cherif EZZINE.

The objective of this truly operational national product certification service is to enable production bodies and consumers to easily distinguish standards-compliant products through their certification. It will ultimately be accredited this service according to ISO/IEC 17065, allowing it to contribute to the protection of consumers.

At the opening of the works, Mr. François Fidégnon KPAKPO, National Focal Point of the WAQSP and President of the High Authority for Quality and Environment (HAUQE), recalled that the framework law of 2009 on quality in Togo had planned deployment of all aspects of quality, including product certification. He recalled that Togo has already set up 17 technical standards committees, which to date, have adopted more than 1,000 standards. The last committee is the SPS. He ended by mentioning the availability of accredited laboratories in Togo to help achieve the objectives. The UNIDO expert, Mr. Chérif EZZINE, seized the opportunity to welcome the creation of the ECOWAS Quality Agency (ECOWAQ) which has planned to mandate the national bodies to certify on its behalf, the products of the region. To this end, the Expert recommended that Togo appoints a general manager who will, inter alia: "Receive applications for certification, contract with auditors and accredited laboratories; set up a cell composed of people who will perform the tasks necessary for the operation of the product certification system; Upgrade by capacity building; appoint a quality manager to follow up on the internal document system, relations with accreditation bodies, manage nonconformities, etc."

As part of this mission to Togo, expert EZZIME also clarified the concept of product certification and responded to participants' concerns; the various product certification programs; the stages of development of a certification repository of products; external communication and commercial action plans for product certification.

At the end of the works, the HAUQE authorities and the expert (on behalf of the WAQSP, EU-funded Program, implemented by UNIDO), committed to continue the collaboration until the final setting up of the national product certification service.