Mrs Boygah the MSB is the authoritative body over multiple key areas which directly affect trade and operations across the country, even at the heart of public and private companies. Could you briefly describe these different areas which come under the aegis of the MSB?
Indeed, although the MSB may be known in the port ecosystem of importers and brokers mainly for the conformity assessment aspect. Yet, the MSB engages in a much wider spectrum of activities, for institutions and companies, but also for individuals. Its services are open to the citizens who may require a neutral body to produce results and inspections. We can list the main services in the following order:
Metrology services: The Bureau provides traceable calibration services in the field of industrial metrology for Mass, Dimensional, Force, Pressure, Electrical and Temperature measurements. The customers are industries, government, regulatory Bodies and the general public.
Standards Development: The standards Development Unit is entrusted with the responsibility of developing Mauritian Standards (MS) under the Mauritius Standards Bureau Act 1993. It establishes standards after consultation with all interested parties and taking into account the diverse point of view of all stakeholders. Standards become mandatory if they are referred in legislations or specified in contracts. For example, there are several mandatory standards related to steel bars for reinforcement of concrete, electrical cables, rubber and plastic tubing and hoses for liquefied petroleum gas, regulators for liquefied petroleum gas and plastic piping system for soil and water discharge.
The Bureau is also actively engaged in the harmonization of standards between the regional trade organisations such as the SADC and the COMESA.
Testing Services: The Bureau offers testing facilities in a wide range of areas such as Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Non-Destructive Testing, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Chemical Technology, Food Microbiology, Fibre and Textiles, Food and Agriculture. The testing laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and analytical instruments and apply modern and sophisticated methods for product analysis.
Product Certification Scheme- MAURICERT Scheme: The Bureau operates a voluntary third party certification scheme for product marking known as Mauricert Scheme. Under this scheme, manufacturers are licensed to use the MSB Mark on goods that conform to the relevant applicable Mauritian Standards. The MSB mark on commodities provides assurance to consumers and end-users that the products had been tested and consistently meet the performance and safety requirements of the applicable standards.
Management System Certification: The Bureau also operates a National Management System Certification Scheme based on ISO 9001, (Quality Management System), ISO/IEC 27001(Information Security Management System), ISO 22000 and MS 133 (Food Safety Management System), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System) and ISO 18001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System).
Training Courses: The Bureau provides training courses on standardization, quality assurance and related subjects to the Public in general as well as in the region of the Indian Ocean.
National Enquiry Point: The Bureau is the government designated WTO/TBT National Enquiry Point, ensuring the responsibility for the dissemination of information with respect to notifications including the associated technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures (both domestic and foreign).
Does the Mauritius Standards Bureau have any upcoming projects on top of this extensive web of activities?
We live in an era where continuous learning and diversification allows to innovate and open up perspectives. Therefore, the MSB seeks to continue diversifying its outreach in inspection and auditing. There are two main areas we are looking into.
The first area, despite the ongoing global pandemic crisis, is the tourism sector. The MSB is studying the aspect of sustainable tourism at par with international standards. The idea is to launch a certificate of sustainable tourism for hotels and tour operators which would command respect and become a value addition for our operators in the sector.
Secondly, the MSB is looking into the agricultural sector, notably how to increase the visibility and value of organic products sold by planters and farmers engaged in the Maurigap process. From the small planter to the larger scale estates, branding crops with Maurigap certification can have a decisive impact for marketing of products at a local, regional and international level. The MSB is at present working on a joint inspection and auditing programme with the collaboration of the FAREI (Food and Agricultural Research and Extention Institute).
The Mauritius Standards Bureau is not a static organisation, and it continues to evolve. It has a vision to support the country in attaining its Sustainable Development Goals. And by interacting with regional and international institutions dedicated to upholding standards, it is engaged in a learning and adapting process also. Therefore, the MSB is always attuned to sources of innovative ideas which may benefit the country or whole sectors of the economy.
The Mauritius Standards Bureau is not a static organisation, and it continues to evolve. It has a vision to support the country in attaining its Sustainable Development Goals.
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