VIENNA, 20 March 2018 – A call for proposals has been launched inviting Sri Lankan Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) to enroll in a technical assistance programme co-ordinated by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The programme seeks to strengthen the technical competence of CABs to provide services for testing laboratories, proficiency testing providers, certified reference material producers, personnel and product certifiers, and technical staff of National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) institutions.

 

NQI refers to a fundamental institutional framework that underpins the practice of standardization, including conformity assessment services, metrology, and accreditation. With UNIDO’s assistance, Sri Lanka’s NQI strategy is now ready to be submitted for cabinet approval. It is expected that this strategy will facilitate the delivery of quality assurance services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

 

UNIDO is facilitating the development of Sri Lanka’s NQI within the framework of the European Union (EU) – Sri Lanka Trade-related Assistance project.

 

Selected CABs are to receive technical support from UNIDO in the form of training and advisory support in the areas of accreditation, standards development, testing and certification in order to demonstrate safety and quality compliance along the food and spices value chains. Selected CABs are expected to commit to providing related services to SMEs along these value chains. The application instructions and form can be found at http://www.unido.org/media/32863 and http://www.unido.org/media/32864, respectively, and are to be submitted no later than 25 April 2018 at 18:00.

 

Ambassador Tung-Lai Margue, the Head of Delegation of the EU to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, lauded this initiative as a big step towards boosting Sri Lanka’s capacity to be compliant with international export requirements. Margue stated, “As national quality infrastructure institutions and conformity assessment bodies play vital roles in ascertaining compliance against product or process standards required for trade, UNIDO will continue to work hand in hand with these actors to enable Sri Lankan agro-exporters to reach EU and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) markets.”