Research center to crack down on illicit imports

The YSMQCO is currently preparing surprise inspections on the market to seize illicit items and control violations.

The Yemeni Standardizations, Metrology and Quality Control Organization (YSMQCO) has opened new three branches to monitor products which enter to the Yemeni market in conformity with the specifications and standards, as Ahmed al-Beshah, Deputy Director-General of YSMQCO, announced last Saturday.

The new branches are in al-Wadea’a, Aleb and Shehen bordered outlets and were designed to enhance the capabilities of YSMQCO in terms of monitoring role on goods and products in different outlets across the country to check up goods entering the country within efforts of the Yemen to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).

He said that a laboratory of food safety will be opened soon in Aden, pointing out to the organization is working to coordinate with all concerned bodies to extend its monitoring activities on various goods  as well as publishing of special standard for Yemeni honey by this year. 

Al-Beshah said that the organization is working on establishing of national committee for food, which aims to improve food standards, in addition to establishing of a research center for standardizations during this year, as well as establishment of a consumer policy unit and publishing of a special guide for importing process of various goods. 

“Activating of national quality systems, issuing of a certificate of national quality and expanding of monitoring activities are essential to develop national products,” Al-Beshah said.

He also spoke on the organization’s activities it has plan for the current year, which includes campaigns to seize non-standard goods in the local markets and the potential implementation of new laboratory equipment. 

The organization is currently preparing to execute surprise inspections of the market to seize illicit items and control violations.  During the last year, a number of different shipments of imported goods were also seized during inspections of storage warehouses in various ports and other venues, and control of goods has been monitored by means of laboratory tests on samples of goods. 

During the last year, the organization published 6850 reports of food products and non-food items, 1008 reporters of them do not apply specifications. We also issued 14 certificates to national factories due to its practicing good manufacturing. The organization issued new 323 specifications and standards.
Al-Beshah concluded by saying that there is a strong coordination between the Yemeni Standardizations Organization and concerned authorities to track violations.

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