The Naeb laboratory will test soil, coffee, tea among others
Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) has certified 11 laboratories that will increase the competitiveness of locally made products on the regional market.
This brings the number of certified laboratories to 51.
Among the certified laboratories are three laboratories which will test minerals. The list includes the St. Joseph Engineering and Alex international Rwanda Company laboratories in Kigali City and the laboratory of the Université Libre de Kigali (ULK).
Rwanda is a lead exporter of Coltan. Minerals in general earn the country more income than several other sectors.
Another approved laboratory is owned by INES Ruhengeri in Musanze district, Northern Province, the laboratory was approved to test food together with the African Improved Food Ltd laboratory in Special Economic Zone-Kigali.
Other laboratories certified on Thursday in Kigali are from the National Agriculture Export Development Board (Naeb) which will test soil, fertilizers, water, Coffee and Tea.
Also in the area of testing water, RSB certified a laboratory of University of Rwanda.
Meanwile Horizon Sopyrwa Limited saw its Musanze based laboratory approved to test essential soils. The latter is very important in a country where economy is largely dependent on agriculture.
It will help to identify appropriate soil for specific crops.
The local cement factory – Cimerwa laboratory in Rusizi district was also certified to test quality of soils.
The Kigali based Integrated Polytechnic Regional Center’s laboratory will test construction Materials.
Raymond Murenzi, the RSB Director General said it has taken them 1 year conducting research and approving the equipment of the laboratories.
Among the criteria that allowed the laboratories to qualify were high technology equipments, good service delivery and qualified personnel.
“Given the quality of laboratories that were certified, we can guarantee the general public that they have experts with required equipments that will protect them against health hazards,”Murenzi said.
According to Murenzi, new Laboratories will save the country from spending a lot of money on tests done abroad.
He said they match the East African standards.
“This will help our local products to penetrate the regional market,”Vincent Munyeshyaka, Minister of Trade and Industry told KT Press.
