Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS) is set to establish a micro-toxin laboratory—a chain of laboratories for minerals, plant pathology and genetically modified organisms that will be used to test derivatives for export.

The progress comes when some of the export commodities have been rejected due to toxin contamination.

Philip Nzaire, who heads testing laboratories at RBS, said in an exclusive interview yesterday that even most cereals contain toxin but there has not been any case reported so far.

"The only case reported was a rejection of peanut butter export, but the toxin is likely to contaminate coffee berries too,” said Nzaire.
He said other products suspected of contamination include milk products.

The new laboratory will also be used to test products meant for local consumption. Currently, some of the derivatives are tested from neighboring countries like Kenya and Uganda.

"We taste some parameters but where we think we are not competent, we take the samples to Kenya,” he said.

According to Nzaire, the standards body will modify the existing structures to install the micro-toxic laboratory equipments estimated at a cost of Rwf800 million.

He however said that the proposed budget is yet to be approved by government.

The move is part of RBS drive towards meeting regional and international standards that would qualify it for international accreditation.

It’s expected that after the establishment of the laboratories, the cost of doing business will reduce by five percent.

Nzaire said much time is wasted in the transportation of samples to regional standards bureaus.

The body is still challenged by technical competences, equipment maintenance and solving of problems.

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