With the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Zimbabwe's Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) and Uganda’s Directorate of Government Analytical Laboratories (DGAL) have attained accreditation to the international standard for testing and calibration
Achieveing this accreditation demonstrates competence; increases confidence among clients; and enhances the prospect of attracting resources by providing paid services and therefore contributing to the sustainability of such laboratories.
In the face of limited resources, national testing and calibration laboratories such as CVL in Zimbabwe and DGAL in Uganda must explore mechanisms to attract funds to facilitate routine operations and ensure sustainable service-delivery. Both these laboratories are supported by the IAEA in cooperation with the FAO, to significantly stengthen their capabilities.
The CVL is now capable of regularly testing foods such as chicken for chemical hazards and can provide end-users with more reliable analytical test results, creating greater consumer confidence. Additionally, personnels from CVL were recently trained and provided with equipment in a regional AFRA food safety project also involving Namibia and Zimbabwe, giving them even greater capability.
“We are glad to have a local accredited food safety laboratory that supports the testing of our food products to ensure confidence among our clients about their safety and save us from the burden of testing abroad”, said Moses Nyanzunda, veterinarian at a major national chicken producing company in Zimbabwe that is a beneficiary of this capability.
Zimbabwe's CVL and Uganda's DGAL attain accreditation
Staff of the CVL, Zimbabwe training in Namibia through a triangular project arrangement between Namibia and Zimbabwe. (Image source: B Jackson/CVL, Zimbabwe)
