The objective of this project was to assist the Standardization and Promotion of Quality Department (DQN) to enable the Moroccan industry to reach a level of quality compatible with the opening of the borders within the free trade area (FTA) through the consolidation of the national system of standardization, accreditation, certification, metrology and market surveillance.
The project was divided into five components with specific objectives.
- Support the Moroccan Institute of Standardization (IMANOR) in modernizing, developing and setting up a system of production/edition/diffusion of standards and by-products. Reinforce the participation of IMANOR in the activities of the international standardization organizations, increase the inclusion of the European standards in the national collection and reinforce the services offered to companies (certification, training, sale of standards), which are self-financing.
- Support the Moroccan Committee of Accreditation (CMA) in developing the new programs of accreditation necessary to Moroccan industry (certification bodies, inspection bodies) and providing staff training in these fields. Develop the information system of the CMA and prepare the effective adhesion of the CMA with the EA (European Accreditation).
- Support conformity assessment bodies - accompany ten conformity assessment bodies for priority products for the national economy to the accreditation according to ISO/IEC 17025, and assist at least six conformity assessment bodies in the effective technical control for families of products covered by the European Directives.
- Support Metrology organizations - support the set-up of an organization in charge of the new national system of metrology, train the staff who will have to negotiate mutual recognition agreements of the national standards of measurement and issue certificates of calibration and measurement, reinforce the international and regional activities of the organizations of metrology, and support the installation of the traceability system to the national standards.
- Support market surveillance organizations - make an identification study on the existing structure of quality control, establish and implement the recommendations of an action plan for the organization of an effective market surveillance system, initiate the training for the inspection and control staff in priority fields, develop an integrated information system concerning the control and market surveillance activities, and support the integration of the Moroccan control and surveillance structures in the European system of diffusion of information and alerts on products presenting risks (RAPEX - Rapid Alert System for Non-Food Products).
