The government of Guinea has established a new national service to oversee the conditioning of agricultural products. The Service national de conditionnement des produits agricoles (SNCPA) is attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and was created by a presidential decree read on national television. The decree outlines the service's missions, responsibilities, and operational modalities. The SNCPA will play a crucial role in ensuring the quality of agricultural products for both local consumption and export.
The SNCPA's primary mission is to ensure the quality of agricultural products for local and international markets. To achieve this, the service will promote and disseminate technical standards for product conditioning and storage, as well as best practices for harvesting, collecting, transporting, and conserving agricultural products. The service will also establish systems for tracing agricultural products and issue identification tickets for a fee, in accordance with existing regulations.
In addition to promoting quality and safety standards, the SNCPA will be responsible for supporting the development of minor processing, certification, and labeling of agricultural products. The service will also participate in controlling the conditioning of products for local and international markets, provide technical support for preparing products for export, and oversee post-harvest infrastructure.
The SNCPA will also focus on equipment and packaging standards. The service will define technical norms for equipment and packaging, homologate equipment, packaging, and post-harvest infrastructure, and maintain a national registry of compliant equipment and installations. This will help ensure that agricultural products are handled and stored safely and efficiently.
Furthermore, the SNCPA will support the development of production units for packaging materials and coordinate technical activities for conditioning and storage. The service will also contribute to the training and sensitization of agricultural stakeholders on best post-harvest practices. This will help improve the overall quality and competitiveness of Guinea's agricultural products.
The SNCPA will have the authority to establish and operate infrastructure, equipment, and production units for conditioning, storage, and packaging of agricultural products, in partnership with the private sector. This will enable the service to generate revenue and improve its effectiveness in supporting the agricultural sector.
The new service will be led by a director appointed by presidential decree, on the recommendation of the Minister of Agriculture. The establishment of the SNCPA is expected to have a positive impact on Guinea's agricultural sector, improving the quality and competitiveness of its products, and ultimately contributing to the country's economic growth and development.
Key points
- The SNCPA will promote and disseminate technical standards for product conditioning and storage.
- The service will establish systems for tracing agricultural products and issue identification tickets.
- The SNCPA will support the development of minor processing, certification, and labeling of agricultural products.
