SANAS accredits Ethiopian leather institute
The South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) has given laboratory accreditation certificate ISO/IEC: 17025 to the Leather Industry Development Institute of Ethiopia (LIDIE).
This second phase accreditation that LIDIE received on 28 February, 2011 will enable its laboratory to certify leather and leather products of local companies who produce for the international market.
The process took more than a year with the financial and technical support from the Government of Italia and the United Nations Industry Development Organization (UNIDO).
“By accrediting the institute we confirm their laboratory’s competency to do product testing locally,” said Mpho Phaloane, senior manager at SANAS, mechanical and physical section. SANAS accredited the institute’s laboratory after checking its facility, system, methods equipments and professionals.
The government of Ethiopia has budgeted $1.5 million for the expansion of laboratory of the institute. To maintain its current quality and continuously improve its services, the institute is expected to pay up to $80,000 every year to SANAS.
State Minister of Trade, Tadesse Haile, noted that accreditation of the institute is a significant step and enables the country to produce internationally competent products.
It will save the time and resources, which companies used to spend to certify their products by travelling abroad, according to Mr Tadesse.
