ABOUT PTB'S COOPERATION WITH THE EAC
The Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Germany’s national metrology institute, has been providing services for more than 125 years. With 2,000 employees at its locations in Braunschweig and Berlin, PTB is a global player in the world of metrology (www.ptb.de). The International Cooperation group of PTB is an implementing organisation of development cooperation contracted by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It supports developing and emerging countries in the development and use of a needs-based and internationally recognised quality infrastructure. A functioning quality infrastructure is indispensable for our daily lives because it enables free, fair and secure trade; a reliable health system; environmental protection; or the expansion of renewable energies.
PTB has been working with the EAC Secretariat for more than 15 years and has been involved in setting up the regional Quality Infrastructure (QI) system. In 2004, EAC Secretariat, PTB and the national Standards Bureaus initiated the establishment of a legal framework for QI at the regional level. In 2007 the SQMT Act (Standardisation, Quality Assurance, Metrology and Testing) was enacted as an EAC regional law. By 2012, about 1,100 standards were harmonised, a pool of trained assessors for accreditation had been established as well as the East African Accreditation Board. National inspectors have been trained according to international inspection and certification standards and conducted regional joint assessments. Metrology laboratories had improved measurement capabilities and many achieved international accreditation. The EAC proficiency testing scheme was established and PTB supported the integration of regional QI-structures in the Panafrican institutions like Inter-African Metrology System (AFRIMETS), African Accreditation Cooperation (AFRAC) and ARSO (African Organisation for Standard Organisation).
Between 2013 and 2019 cooperation between PTB and EAC Secretariat focused on improving the regional Quality Infrastructure for the pharmaceutical sector. Through project interventions like the establishment of new calibration services, regular proficiency testing schemes and GMP trainings contributing to improved framework conditions for local manufacturing of pharmaceuticals. At the same time, regulatory authorities have been supported to conduct good manufacturing practice (GMP) inspections and regional harmonised market surveillance in order to identify sub-standard medicines. It was particularly important to the project to bring together stakeholders from both the private sector and regulatory authorities to foster cooperation with the common goal of producing safe and effective medicines in the region. The current project which started in 2019 focuses on quality infrastructure for the pharmaceuticals, leather and fruits & vegetables sector.
Learn more about the Project Learn more about the PTB Video about quality requirements in the fruits value chain
You want to learn more on quality assurance during mango juice production? Click below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UdBtxS465g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCytb3YfXAM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YG4AbCuT3RE