ARSO Conformity Assessment Programme (ACAP)
ARSO Conformity Assessment Programme (ACAP)
A strategic initiative to enhance Africa’s quality infrastructure, supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by ensuring products and services meet harmonized standards, boosting consumer safety, competitiveness, and market access.
Core Components of ACAP
Harmonized Standards
Promotes harmonization of standards and procedures to enable mutual recognition of conformity assessment results across African countries.
Accreditation & Capacity Building
Supports development of competent laboratories, certification bodies, auditors, and inspectors through accreditation and training.
Mutual Recognition Arrangements
Reduces non-tariff barriers by ensuring cross-border acceptance of test reports and certificates under Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs).
Trusted Certification Marks
Introduces continental certification marks like EcoMark Africa and Made in Africa to enhance product credibility.
Self-Declaration of Conformity (SDoC)
Enables cost-effective compliance for MSMEs through self-declaration, supported by technical documentation.
MSME Support
Offers affordable certification pathways and technical support for MSMEs and the informal sector to access formal markets.
Key Certification Schemes
EcoMark Africa (EMA)
Promotes sustainable production in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and tourism, focusing on environmental, social, and economic criteria.
Made in Africa (MiA)
Fosters industrialization and intra-African trade by certifying African-manufactured products, aligned with Agenda 2063.
African Quality Mark (AQM)
Certifies products meeting harmonized African standards, often used in dual marking with national certification marks.
Current Status of Conformity Assessment
Accreditation status of National Standards Bodies (NSBs) under ACAP, aligned with ISO/IEC 17065 and AFRAC partnerships.
| Country | NSB | Accreditation Status | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya | KEBS | YES | ALL SCOPES |
| Zambia | ZABS | YES | ARS/AES 5 – Tilapia, ARS/AES 1 Agriculture |
| Cameroon | ANOR | YES | ARS/AES 1 Agriculture, ARS/AES 3 Forestry |
| Egypt | EOS | On-going | ARS/AES 4 Medical Tourism |
As of September 2025, over 10 firms are certified under EcoMark Africa, with over 6 more in progress, covering agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and tourism.
| Firm | EMA Award | Scope | Country | Year | Certification Body |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kamuthanga Farm Ltd | Platinum | Aquaculture Tilapia | Kenya | 2019 (Renewal 2025) | KEBS |
| Coffee Management Services Ltd | Gold | Agriculture coffee | Kenya | 2019 | KEBS |
| Kofinaf Company Ltd | Gold | Agriculture coffee | Kenya | 2019, renewed 2025 | KEBS |
| Hotel des mille collines | Silver | Tourism | Rwanda | 2019 | KEBS |
| Kapngetuny Cooperative Society | Bronze | Agriculture coffee | Kenya | 2019 | KEBS |
| Kapkiyai Multipurpose Cooperative Society | Bronze | Agriculture coffee | Kenya | 2019 | KEBS |
| Allied Timber of Zimbabwe | Bronze | Forestry | Zimbabwe | 2019 | SAZ |
| Quarcoo Initiatives (Queen organics) | Bronze | Agriculture-Orange peels | Ghana | 2019 (Renewal 2025) | SAZ |
| Ralpmay Nig Ltd | Bronze | African catfish | Nigeria | 2019 | SAZ |
| SON Fish farm Ltd | Bronze | Tilapia | Uganda | 2019 | KEBS |
| Upper Lesape Irrigation Scheme | Bronze | Agriculture-Paprika | Zimbabwe | 2022 | SAZ |
| PA Chikaya Fish Farm | Bronze | Fisheries-Tilapia | Zambia | 2024 | ZABS |
| Yatu Food Limited | Bronze | Agriculture-Black Tea | Zambia | 2024 | ZABS |
Dual marking involves products bearing both the National Certification Mark and the African Quality Mark (AQM) after meeting harmonized African standards. 130 products, including 67 MSMEs across the continent, are undergoing certification.
Understanding Self-Declaration of Conformity in the Context of ARSO Conformity Assessment Programme (ACAP)
A self-declaration of conformity is a formal statement by a manufacturer or supplier that their product meets specified standards and requirements. This declaration is a first-party conformity assessment, meaning the assessment is carried out by the producer themselves, without the mandatory intervention of an independent third-party certification body. It is a common practice globally, particularly for products considered to be of lower risk.
Self-Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) is formally based on ISO/IEC 17050:
- ISO/IEC 17050-1:2004 – Conformity assessment — Supplier’s declaration of conformity — Part 1: General requirements
- ISO/IEC 17050-2:2004 – Conformity assessment — Supplier’s declaration of conformity — Part 2: Supporting documentation
a) Part 1 specifies the general requirements for the content and structure of a supplier’s declaration. b) Part 2 gives requirements on the documentation (technical files, test reports, traceability) that must be retained to support the declaration.
The core principle of a self-declaration is the manufacturer’s assumption of responsibility for their product’s compliance. This is typically supported by technical documentation that substantiates the claim of conformity. This documentation may include test reports, design calculations, and a description of the manufacturing process.
Key Features of SDoC
- Based on trust, accountability, and transparency of the supplier.
- Reduces compliance costs and administrative burdens, especially for SMEs.
- Requires suppliers to maintain adequate technical documentation and traceability to demonstrate compliance if challenged.
- Often complemented by market surveillance by regulators to ensure credibility.
Application in the Context of ARSO’s Conformity Assessment Activities
While ARSO’s documented procedures emphasize these third-party certification systems, self-declaration of conformity still plays a crucial role within this framework:
- A Foundation for Certification: For a manufacturer to confidently apply for a third-party certification like the ARSO Quality Mark, they must have first conducted their own internal assessments and be prepared to declare that their products meet the relevant standards. In this sense, a self-declaration is an initial and fundamental step in the journey towards formal certification.
- Demonstrating Compliance in a Broader Context: In trade, particularly in business-to-business transactions or for products in less regulated sectors, a supplier’s declaration of conformity can be a key document. It provides a baseline level of assurance to purchasers and can be a contractual requirement.
- Supporting Market Surveillance: A manufacturer’s self-declaration, backed by technical evidence, can be a valuable document for national standards bodies and regulatory authorities during market surveillance activities.
ARSO’s Conformity Assessment Activities seek to build trust in the African market and the principle of self-declaration of conformity underpins these efforts. It represents the manufacturer’s primary responsibility for ensuring their products meet the required standards, a crucial first step before seeking and in support of the more rigorous independent verification offered by ARSO’s certification schemes.
Why Conduct a Self-Declaration of Conformity?
- Facilitate intra-African trade by simplifying compliance across borders under the AfCFTA.
- Support SMEs who may lack resources for third-party certification but still need to demonstrate compliance with ARS (African Regional Standards).
- Enhance uptake of ARSO standards by allowing faster and cost-effective demonstration of conformity.
- Complement third-party certification schemes such as the ARSO Quality Mark and ARSO EcoMark, by offering a more flexible, risk-based option for low-risk products.
- Align with international practices (WTO TBT Agreement encourages the use of SDoC where appropriate, to reduce unnecessary barriers to trade).
Key Achievements
- EcoMark Africa: Over 10 firms have been certified across agriculture, fisheries, and tourism, with 3 more in progress in Zambia.
- Dual Marking Scheme: Over 120 products, including more than 60 MSMEs from Togo, Senegal, and Ethiopia, under certification.
- Capacity Building: Training programs for National Certification Bodies and SMEs to ensure compliance with harmonized standards.
Capacity Building
Training and technical support for National Certification Bodies, testing laboratories, and SMEs to ensure compliance with harmonized African standards and support the AQM and dual marking schemes.
Potential Areas for Partnership
Capacity Building & Technical Assistance
SME Awareness & Support Programs
Cross-Border Collaboration
Sector-Specific Certification
Digitalization of Certification
Research & Impact Assessment
EcoMark Africa Resources
Access key documents related to the EcoMark Africa program, including the Abuja Treaty and certification guidelines.