BASQM是Benin Agency of Standardization & Quality Management的缩写。

The development of economic and trade in the current cotext of the globalisation and universalization characterized by competitiveness, imposes on the Republic of Benin adaptation of its productive apparatus to the standards.

In the number of the strategic choices of Benin for, to answer this requirement, to

penetrate into our organized markets and to increase its economy as well at the national level as international appears standardization. The experiment all over the world showed that standardization could not be done satisfactorily within a cut administrative framework of the economic operators.

Also the Government of Benin has instituted the National System of Standardization and of

Management of Quality and created the Benin Agency of Standardization and Quality

Management (BASQM) by N°97-520 decree of October 17, 1997. Benin Agency of

Standardization and Quality Management includes/understands four (4) departments:-

- the National Council of Standardization and Management of Quality.

- the Committee of Orientation of Standardization.

The B.A.S.Q.M is the executive body of the Council. It is a publicly-owned establishment

in matter product certifications and approval into the makets.

To carry out these missions,(BASQM) has laid out for the moment four (4) engineering

departments with knowing:

- Service Standardization;

- Product Certification and Accreditation;

- Service Formation and Assistance the Council;

- Service Documentation and Information.

With the head of which are a Director. The BASQM support also on the Sectoral Technical

Committees of Standardization. The Committees are technical structures which intervene

in the development of the standards and the technical study of the files of revision or

cancellation of the standards of products to be sold into our markets, they have only one

fully established office (HEADQUATER) for an effecient service.

To help fulfill the responsibility to protect the consumers of Benin Republic , Benin Agency

of Standardization and Quality Management (BASQM), are proud to announce her Conformity Assessment Program (BASQM-CAP)

The aim of BASQM-CAP is to identify those goods which pose the highest risk to consumers

in Benin Republic and ensure that their claims of safety are verified before they are exported to Benin Republic. This will help ensure that Benin consumers are protected from unsafe and substandard goods as well as ensuring that Benin manufacturers are not subjected to unfair competition from such goods.

From 01 September 2000, the BASQM-CAP will become mandatory for products within its

scope. These products are to be known as Regulated Products and failure by exporters /

Manufacturers to comply with the SOBCAP in relation to these products may result in the

rejection of goods, additional testing, impounding of the goods and delays at Cotonou

ports.

The presentation of BASQM-CAP Certification, which consists of a Product Certificate and a

SOBCAP Certificate, will be the means through which the BASQM-CAP will be enforced. Both of

these items are mandatory clearance documents for Regulated Products in addition.

REGULATED PRODUCTS

The BASQM-CAP applies to the following products known as Regulated Products

1. All electrical and electronic products that could be used by members of the public

whether in their homes or otherwise e.g. in residential, office, retail, leisure etc environments.

Examples include, but are not limited to, household appliances, IT products,

communication products, lighting products, audio-visual products

2. Motor vehicle tyres

3. Automotive glass

4. Vehicle spare parts

5. Motor vehicle batteries

6. Gas Appliances

7.Building Materials

8. Certain galvanised steel products and Toys

9. Food and Food Products

10. Chemicals

The statutory functions of the Benin Agency of Standardization and Quality Management

(BASQM) by N°20-1220 decree of October 1, 2000.

(a) To organise test and do everything necessary to ensure compliance with standards

designated and approved by the Council.

(b) to undertake investigations as necessary into the quality of facilities, materials and

products in Benin Republic, and establish a quality assurance system including certification of

factories, products and laboratories.

(c) To ensure reference standards for calibration and verification of measures and

measuring instruments.

(d) To compile an inventory of products requiring standardisation.

(e) To register and regulate standard marks and specifications.

(f) To foster interest in the recommendation and maintenance of acceptable standards by

manufacturers and the general public.

(g) To advise departments of government of the Federation or States on specific problems

relating to standards.

(h) To national and international conferences as it may consider appropriate.

(i) to co-ordinate all activities relative to its functions throughout Benin and to co-operate

with corresponding national or international organisations in such fields of activity as it

considers necessary with a view to securing uniformity in standards specifications.

Overview:-

One important aspect of the quality control activity of the Agency is the annual certification

exercise of products from companies for quality award known as the BIS Award. This mark is given to manufacturers as a symbol of quality and could be displayed on their products for the year it was won. It is an annual exercise whereby interested companies apply direct to for the use of its BIS quality mark on their product for the year. The procedure for earning the BIS Mark is described below.

Procedure for the BIS Certification Mark The procedure for certification of product for Quality Award has been the same over the years. It involves three important steps being taken by the Organisation following the receipt of application from interested companies. They are:

a. A series of systematic inspections of the product and factory is undertaken to determine

whether the product conforms to the relevant BIS specifications. Laboratory tests are then

carried out on the products to verify their conformity with the relevant BASQM established

parameters. Once these processes have been carried out and the quality of the product is certified to have met the approved standard, the manufacturer is awarded the mark, which is put on its product for the year.

b. More procedural inspections are carried out on factories and laboratory tests conducted

on products samples during a follow-up action. The monitoring is to ensure that the

subsequent quality of the product manufactured is in accordance with the relevant approved BIS

specifications.

c. Though each BIS quality certificate award is only for duration of one year, it is renewable

on yearly basis as long as the relevant standards parameters are met. The certification can also

be withdrawn if the company is found to have grossly defaulted after the award.

About the Display of BIS Mark on Products

The public may wish to note that the display of the BIS quality mark on any product is an

indication that the product conforms to relevant specified standards parameters established by

BASQM. It is therefore an offence for a manufacturer to display the BIS quality mark on his product without winning the award. It is also an offence for imported products to carry the BIS logo without winning the award.

Types of BIS Quality Award

There are categories of BIS quality awards. They are Gold, Silver and Ordinary certificates.

Ordinary is (1-4) years, Silver is (5-9) years, Gold is (10-24) years, and Diamond is 25 and above. The companies, which have consistently won the award for ten years and above, are categorised under «GOLD BIS CERTIFICATE WINNERS’’. While those that have consistently won the award for periods of five to nine years are given’’ SILVER BIS CERTIFICATE”. Both Gold and Silver BIS certificates winners are also given Gold and Silver plaques respectively with BIS mark and the year of award boldly inscribed on them and made suitable for display. The plaque is however updated every year if the manufacturer's product is revalidated. The third type of certificate, Ordinary Certificate, is awarded to those companies, which have consistently won the award for a period of one to four years. There is also the BRONZE CATEGORY.

The certification exercise has been witnessing increases in demand for the award because

of increased consumer awareness. The BIS award mark thus is becoming prestigious in the manufacturing circle.

Perhaps the reader should know that the fourth Award which is the highest is the DIAMOND AWARD

that is reserved for the outstanding quality award winners twenty-five years and above.

Registration Procedures:

Exporter wishing to obtain a product Cerrificate ,then, Exporter contract Local BASQM country office, then, Exportter send valid product lab teat report to BASQM country office, then,BASQM reviews the test report, is report OK, then ,then, if the certifiacte is rejected, you shall be duly informed, if accepted, exporter send the registration fee. certificate is issued to the export via DHL EXPRESS after receipt of payment.