Rwanda: Parliament Flags Major Gaps in Quality Certification

What the report says

Rwanda’s Parliament has flagged significant problems in the country’s quality certification system after reviewing the Auditor General’s report, according to The New Times via AllAfrica. The concerns center on delayed approvals, added costs for businesses, weak inspection coverage and slow laboratory testing. The findings were discussed by the parliamentary Committee on Economy and Trade and affect firms seeking certificates from the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB), especially those introducing new products to the market.

The review found that many applications were held up for long periods, with some certification requests taking years and laboratory results sometimes arriving months late. It also noted that a number of applicants were not given clear written reasons when certification was denied. In addition, some small, medium and large enterprises were charged above the prescribed fees, while required factory inspections and follow-up market surveillance were not consistently carried out.

RSB and the Ministry of Trade and Industry attributed part of the problem to system limitations, staffing shortages and funding constraints. The ministry said steps are under way, including an upgraded information system, broader laboratory capacity, and stronger coordination among agencies. In general terms, the issues matter because certification affects how quickly products can reach the market, how much businesses spend and how reliably standards are enforced.