Lack of the ‘S’ Mark and products certification is blocking some of the agro-processing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) from tapping into both potential domestic and international markets, an assessment report has indicated. The S-Mark was originally developed in New Zealand and has become a leading assurance of product performance and safety. It is a powerful marketing tool that can give your product point of sale impact and differentiate it from the competition in advertising, tendering and sales presentations. The ‘S’ Mark is the independent symbol of approval carrying a three-fold message of compliance, product control and confidence. According to the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB), there is need to accompany the SMES in the certification process to enable them to contribute to the national vision of increasing exports. The Director General of RSB; Raymond Murenzi, told Sunday Times that out of 62 SMEs that are on the list to get guidance and technical support to get S-MARK since 2017, only 28 SMEs fulfill the basic requirements. Of the 28, 14 are in the dairy sector, five in adding value to cereals, five in fruits and vegetables value addition, two in meat processing, one in honey processing and the other one in services. He said that eight of them have are progressing but they do not fulfill basic requirements while 13 of them are still weak and need support to improve. The assessment criteria includes having capable human resources, understanding and control food safety, premises, equipment, raw materials and finished products control, durable packaging materials, better storage facilities in better conditions, cleaning and sanitation capacity, knowledge of pests and diseases control, waste handling among many others. RSB says that SMEs in agro-processing need to produce and supply both domestic market and exports. Murenzi explained that since the freemovement of business persons and investments was signed last year in Kigali, the agro-processing SMEs must also tap into such opportunities including EAC countries. “You cannot freely cross borders with substandard products,” he said. The official said that they have started to train University graduates in food processing and are deploying them to support SMEs in agro-processing saying that 25 of them have been deployed so far. Murenzi noted that the milk value addition dairy products with certification have increased from 18 in 2017 to 105 so far while 77 agro-processing SMEs in banana value chain got S-MARK with certified products that increased from two to 105 processed from banana. New technology to detect counterfeit products He added that traders, consumers will soon be able to easily detect if products are counterfeit by using an application on their mobile phones. “People will use smart phones and point them at the products which will immediately show all details regarding RSB standards. It will help us detect counterfeit products and both local and imported expired products,” he said. Clémentine Mukandayisenga is a young entrepreneur producing wine and juice from sugar cane.She got a certificate that proves that she has the potential to get the S-MARK. “My production has increased from 340 liters to 3,000 liters in six months and I will keep increasing till I get S-MARK. When I need to export my products, clients first ask if I have the S-MARK and then reject my products,” she said. editorial@newtimesrwanda.com
