The African Electro-technical Standardization Commission (AFSEC) is intensifying efforts to harmonize electrical and electronic standards across Africa, to enhance product safety, reliability and global competitiveness.
During its 10th General Assembly in Mombasa, AFSEC is set to adopt two key guidelines on Electric Vehicle (EV) Applications and Charging Infrastructure in Africa and the Grid Integration of Renewable Energy Generation in Africa, marking a major step towards supporting the continent’s energy transition and technological advancement.
The forum is also expected to adopt 144 standards recommended by AFSEC Technical Committees, approve Togo’s admission as a statutory member and establish two new Technical Committees on Substations and Transmission Lines and Artificial Intelligence.
Kenya, through the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), will join 18 other AFSEC statutory member states in electing new leadership and reviewing the achievements of the continental organisation, which was established in 2008.
AFSEC Acting President Jacob Akoussi said during the opening of the assembly that the Commission conducts conformity assessments to certify products, facilitate trade and safeguard consumers by ensuring only compliant electrical and electronic products enter the market.
Despite the progress made in enhancing product safety, Akoussi noted that consumer awareness remains a major challenge, with many buyers still unaware of the importance of purchasing certified products.
“Consumers must understand that every product they buy should conform to established standards. They should not purchase products unless they are certain the products have a certificate of conformity,” he said.
He urged Member States to strengthen regulatory frameworks while enhancing customs enforcement of harmonized standards to curb the entry of substandard electrical and electronic products into local markets.
Akoussi further noted that adopting common standards across Africa would promote intra-African trade, enhance consumer protection and ensure that only safe and quality products circulate within the continent.
KEBS Manager for IEC/Electro-technical Standards Development and Trade, Zacheus Mwatha, said the General Assembly would develop a roadmap to guide AFSEC’s activities until the next meeting.
Mwatha said AFSEC’s long-term vision is to ensure Africa manufactures more of what it currently imports while guaranteeing that its exports meet internationally acceptable standards.
“When we all adopt the same conformity assessment scheme and a uniform standard across the continent, we will be able to control what enters Africa because we trade across borders within the continent,” said Mwatha.
“By adopting a harmonised conformity assessment system and applying uniform continental standards, we will ensure that products entering Africa meet the requirements of our harmonized standards,” he added.
By Sadik Hassan
