G-CAP not starting in March – Trade Ministry

The Ministry of Trade and Industry has denied reports in the media that the Ghana Conformity Assessment Programme (G-CAP) will start in March or April, 2015.

A statement issued on Thursday by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and signed by the Deputy Communications Manager, Nasir Ahmad Yartey, said that no date had been scheduled and no approval had been given for the implementation of G-CAP.

The Ministry noted that most of its conditions given to the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to be fulfilled before the commencement of the programme had not been met.

The GSA was to ensure that pre-inspected goods would not be inspected unless for certain goods and on sampling basis, upon invitation by the Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority.

The GSA was also to put renegotiation of contract terms with the programme’s partners under “full oversight” of the Minister and to intensify public and stakeholder education prior to the implementation of G-CAP.

Furthermore, the Ghana Standards Authority and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) are expected to hold consultations to harmonize their operations on the G-CAP project.

The statement said that though the Ministry of Trade and Industry is committed to ensuring the successful implementation of the G-CAP, it would not be authorized “until all known potential stakeholders and issues have been satisfactorily addressed.”

The Ministry said that after GSA has met the requirements, a three-month public notice would be issued to give all stakeholders enough time to adjust to the new procedures.

The G-CAP was signed by Ghana Standards Authority, Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS) and Bureau Veritas Group (BIVAC) to provide conformity assessment on imported goods upon its implementation. Under the programme, imported goods would first be verified in the exporting country to ensure that they meet approved standards.