Product Certification Department

PRODUCT CERTIFICATION SCHEME FOR LOCALLY MANUFACTURED GOODS

 

1. GENERAL
The Ghana Standards Board is operating a Product Certification Marking Scheme, under which manufacturers are licensed to use the GSB Certification Mark on goods produced by them in conformity to the relevant Ghana Standards or International Standards.  The Board derives its mandate from the Standards Decree NRCD 173:1973 and the LI 662 and LI 664 which affords its implementation.  Currently participation in the GSB Certification is voluntary. However, in some instances, government regulatory authorities may require mandatory certification.

The GSB operates a quality system for certification in accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC Guide 65 for conformity assessment bodies.  The certification process involves Testing of product and assessment of manufacturer’s quality system for compliance to relevant standards. The results of the testing and inspection activities are coordinated by the Certification Department and the decision on application is taken by the Certification Mark Committee (CMC). 

 

2. OBJECTIVES
The objective is to provide confidence to consumers, regulatory bodies as well as insurance companies that product bearing the Certificate Mark will meet the requirements of applicable Ghana/International Standards.

To the consignee, the existence of the Certification Mark on products, certified under the scheme, distinguishes a quality product from an untested/sub-standard product at the point of purchase and gives the Board’s third party guarantee about the products conformity to the relevant Ghana/International Standards.

 

3. THE CERTIFICATION MARKING SCHEME
Any manufacturer having the requisite production and testing facilities may apply for a licence under the Certification Marking Scheme and the Ghana Standards Board may authorize use of the Certification Mark on the product after the relevant conditions have been satisfied.

Process
On receipt of an application, the completed application forms are vetted for completeness.

Criteria for completeness are as follows:

1. All relevant information has been provided by applicant
2. All relevant documents have been attached (Scheme of inspection and test; copy of company registration certificate; copy of the product label where appropriate).

The applicant request is then reviewed to ensure that –

1. The applicant’s request is well understood
2. The resources and capability for executing the contract are available
3. The applicant understands the rules of the certification mark system

The applicant (company) is registered by entering particulars of applicant in register. 
Further processing of application is subject to payment of appropriate testing and processing fees.

After the necessary fees have been paid, the GSB organizes an inspection of the manufacturer’s works to make an appraisal of the controls exercised during production, i.e. the facilities available for carrying out tests on the incoming materials and components, during in-process stages of production, and on final product. Samples are taken for evaluation of quality and it is only after GSB has satisfied itself that the manufacturer is capable of producing goods to the relevant Ghana/International Standard on a continuing basis would the licence be given for the manufacturer to use the Certification Mark on his product.  Every application includes a well defined scheme of inspection and test which the licensee has to follow strictly.  It prescribes the specific tests and the frequency of conducting them.

 Results of tests carried out on products with the Certification Mark by the licensee on one hand, and by GSB and other independent laboratories on the other hand, must correspond with each other to reflect satisfactory operation of the Quality System.  If they fail to do so, causes are investigated and action taken against the licensee if necessary as provided under the Decree.  For bonafide variations, corrective steps are permitted to be taken and the marking is suspended till improvement in the operations of the system is ensured.  The licence is renewed, on a year to year basis, only if the performance of the licensee assessed through periodic inspections and testing of factory/ market samples is satisfactory.

Technical features  
The Certification Marking Scheme operates the following technical features after an application for the licence.

1. Initial planned inspection of the factory‘s quality control system, including calibration status of testing equipments by GSB inspectors.
2. A system for Quality Control during production, operated by personnel, covering regular testing of incoming materials/components as well as semi-finished (in process) and final products.
3. Initial type testing of products drawn from production line, in GSB laboratories or any approved independent laboratories for conformity to requirements of the relevant Ghana Standards/International Standards.
4. Surveillance audit of the factory’s quality control system, including calibration status of testing equipment by GSB inspectors through surprise periodic inspection.
5. Quality audit of samples of certified products, drawn from licensees’ factories through testing in GSB or approved independent laboratories periodically.
6. Quality Audit of samples of certified products drawn from market/ consumers through testing in GSB or approved independent  laboratories

 

4.  THE SCHEME OF INSPECTION AND TEST
The Scheme of Inspection and Test is a contractual agreement that prescribes the specific tests and inspections which the licensee has to follow strictly.  The client provides his scheme which the Board verifies and amends if necessary.  If agreed upon, it becomes a contract document for the certification of the client’s product.  The Scheme of Inspection and Test defines the responsibilities and obligations of both the Licensee and the Ghana Standards Board (Board). It contains the requirements for inspection, testing and records keeping to ensure maintenance of the required quality control and compliance with the provisions of the standard

 

5. COMPLAINTS

Complaints on quality of certified products can be sent to the Head Office or the nearest Regional Office of the Ghana Standards Board. Such complaints are investigated on a priority basis, including testing of the item in question in the GSB laboratories, and if deviations from relevant Ghana/International standards are established then free replacement is arranged for the complainant.

Simultaneously, causes for such failures are investigated and steps are taken with the licensee for necessary corrective actions to avoid recurrence of such deviations and failures in the final product.

 

6. MISUSE OF THE CERTIFICATION MARK
Misuse of the Certification Mark by any manufacturer or supplier, is punishable as per the provisions under the Decree and the Legistrative Instruments (LI) which even provides for closure of the manufacturing premises or wholesale of the offending party.  The GSB is also vested with search and seizure power to effectively deal with such situations.

 

GSB PROCEDURE FOR CERTIFICATION OF LOCALLY MANUFACTURED GOODS

Steps to Product Certification

STEP 1

Submission of formal application on CM Form 1-Application for licence to use the Ghana Standards Board certification Mark.

STEP 2

Vetting of completed CM Form 1 for completeness.
Criteria for completeness-

1. All relevant information has been provided by applicant
2. All relevant documents have been attached (Scheme of inspection and test; copy of  company registration certificate; copy of the product label where appropriate)

STEP 3

Review of applicant’s request.
The purpose of this activity is to ensure that –

1. The applicant’s request is well understood
2. The resources and capability for executing the contract are available
3. The applicant understands the rules of the certification mark system including the conditions for granting, maintaining, extending, suspending and withdrawing  of certification

STEP 4

Registration of applicant (company)

Entering particulars of applicant in register

Further processing of application is subject to payment of appropriate testing and processing fees.

(Fees for services rendered in connection with certification are based on the most current fee structure and vary according to type of product. Currently the fees range from (GH¢300.00 – GH ¢800.00 per product.)

 

STEP 5

Factory inspection
This activity involves –

1. Inspection of records to determine compliance with agreed requirements.
2.  Inspection of manufacturing process to determine whether the plans and procedures established for the assurance of quality are followed.
3. Sampling.

(Take representative sample of the batch; the sample size should at least be enough for type testing and to cater for contingencies such as repetition of test for confirmation of results)

 

STEP 6

Conformity evaluation of product.
This activity may include –

1. Testing of product ( Indirect method ) ; and or
2. Performance test (Direct method )

STEP 7

Convening of Certification Mark Committee Meeting
Licence is granted when the following conditions are satisfied.

1. The factory inspection report is favourable;
2. The product quality is acceptable
3. The labeling  / marking of product is satisfactory

Decisions of the CMC are communicated to the applicants. Where the application fails, the client is informed of the aspects of quality where his or her product failed to meet the specified requirements.

 

STEP 8

Issue of licence
The licence is designed to indicate-

1. The standard specification applied in the evaluation
2. The unique registration number of the applicant / company

 

STEP 9

SURVEILLANCE (FACTORY QUALITY AUDIT & MARKET SURVEILLANCE)

GSB conducts surveillance to determine continuous compliance with the specified requirements of the certification system. The licence may be suspended /cancelled whenever the quality of product cannot be assured

 

Enforcement Action

GSB reserves the right to suspend, withdraw or cancel the Certificate of Approval at any time during the validity period.
Generally, suspension, withdrawal and cancellation are considered in the following instances:-

1. Corrective actions not completed within the agreed time-scale;
2. Persistent non-conformance with the standard
3. Misuse of the GSB Mark of Conformity.
4. Failure to comply with the financial requirement of the Agreement entered into with GSB;
5. Actions and omissions on the part of company that are likely to bring the reputation of GSB into disrepute. (GSB reserves the right to publish in whatever way it feels for the withdrawal, suspension or cancellation of a company’s Certificate of Approval.)
6.  Surveillance reports indicate that the product is hazardous
7. Measures taken by the licensee in the case of suspension is not adequate to address concern.

 

STEP 10

Renewal
Approval for renewal of licence is upon satisfactory inspection and test reports and payment of fees