Strengthening the Colombian Quality System

Project completed

The project implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) aims to strenghten Colombia's national quality infrastructure through the Cosmetic sector's enhanced compliance capacity to meet international and private quality and sustainability standards.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Colombia
Sustainable trade
01.10.2014 - 31.12.2018
CHF 1'995'665
Background

In recent years, Colombia has concluded a substantive number of Free Trade Agreements (FTA), including with the EFTA countries. While these agreements enhance trade opportunities for Colombian products by facilitating access to new markets, the country is still not able to fully exploit its export potential for the generation of much needed employment. A key limiting factor for the Colombian export sector is the national quality system - NQS (which coverers Metrology, Accreditation, Standards, and Conformity Assessment services).

Objectives

The overall objective of the project is to foster Colombia's integration into the regional and multilateral trading systems by enhancing its trade capacities and performance. This will be achieved partly through the strengthening of the National Quality Infrastructure and a first pilot support programme aimed at enhancing and improving the cosmetic sector's capacity, in particular products derived from natural ingredients, to comply with international and voluntary quality and sustainability standards.

Medium-term outcomes

The project consists of three complementary components to be implemented over a period of four years:

Outcome 1: The technical capacity of the National Metrology Institute (NMI), the National Accreditation Board (ONAC), and the Superintendence for Industry and Commerce (SIC) are strengthened to serve the cosmetic sector.

Outcome 2: The national quality infrastructure is strengthened to provide internationally recognized services to the cosmetic sector, in particular key functions providing conformity assessment.

Outcome 3: Compliance with international quality, private and sustainability standards, technical regulations and market requirements is enhanced along the natural ingredients Value Chain (VC) for cosmetic production.

Results

Expected results:  

An in-depth assessment of the country cosmetic sector's requirements /needs on proficiency testing.

ONAC technical capacity is strengthened to provide internationally recognized accreditation services to Inspection Bodies and Conformity Assessment Bodies.

NMI technical staff resources are trained and qualified in chemical metrology following internationally-recognized curricula and international best practices.

SIC technical staff resources are trained and qualified in legal metrology following international best practices.

A market survey of the NQI servicing the cosmetic sector.

At least 3 conformity assessment service providers are ready to obtain accreditation by ONAC with international recognition.

An awareness campaign promotes the role, mandate, benefits, and services offered by the NQS to the cosmetic sector.

A number of key value chain members (e.g. growers, producers, exporters) are trained on standards compliance technical regulations, best practices, etc.


Directorate/federal office responsible SECO
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
  • Industrial Development Organization


Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF   1'995'665 Swiss disbursement to date CHF   0 Budget inclusive project partner CHF   2'100'700
Project phases

Phase 1 01.10.2014 - 31.12.2018   (Completed)