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ECOWAS Standards Authorities meet to develop standards for paints

By GNA
Business & Finance ECOWAS Standards Authorities meet to develop standards for paints
MAY 29, 2017 LISTEN

Accra, May 29, GNA - A three-day meeting of Standards Authorities in the ECOWAS sub-region to develop standards for paints and varnishes is underway in Accra.

The meeting sought to develop a common standard to help paints and varnishes manufacturers in the sub-region in their production.

The workshop is being organised by the ECOWAS Standard Harmonisation Model (ECOSHAM) in collaboration with the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), under the auspices of the West African Quality Systems Programme.

Participating countries include Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Togo, and Senegal.

The meeting would discuss five draft standards of the Technical Committee 3 (THC3) Chemical Products, which had already gone through the public hearing: paints and varnishes - specification for powdered cement paint; paints and varnishes - specification for mineral solvents (turpentine) for paints and other purposes.

It would also discuss paints and varnishes - specification for sanding sealer; paints and varnishes - Specification for lacquer thinner and paints and varnishes - specification for nitrocellulose lacquer.

Mr Kwesi Owusu Boadu, the Director of Standards, GSA, said standards development takes time; he therefore, commended the THC3 Project Committee for a good work done.

He said having a harmonised standard for goods and services in the Ecowas sub-region would facilitate smooth trade among member countries.

Mr Stephen Adu, Chair of THC3 - Chemical Products, expressed his appreciation to Ghana for accepting to host the Accra meeting.

He said since the inception of the Committee, several activities had taken place; stating that 'we had concluded works on some aspects of paints and varnishes, emulsion and oil paints is being worked upon'.

'And then we have also looked at soaps and detergents, that has gone passed the Committees stage; it would be sent to sister standard institutions for public enquiry,' he added.

He said the larger objective of the Committee was to assist ECOWAS in helping in the harmonisation of standards to facilitate regional and international trade.

'And as members of this Committee, the least we can do is not to let our people down. We need to be up and doing,' Mr Adu added.

The Director of Industry at the ECOWAS Commission, Mr Mensan Lawson-Hechelli, said the Commission was doing its fundamental works to ensure the harmonisation of standards; adding that harmonisation of standards was in the interest of economies in the West Africa sub-region.

Mrs Prudence Asamoah-Bonti, National Focal Person, the West African Quality Systems Programme, urged members of the THC3 Committee to do their work well to ensure that at the end of the day, the standard truly reflected the issues on the ground.

GNA

By Iddi Z. Yire, GNA

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