On September 30, 2026, Niger's Minister of Commerce and Industry, Abdoulaye Seydou, met with bakery managers in Niamey to discuss the results of a recent inspection conducted by the Nigerien Agency for Standardization, Metrology, and Certification (ANMC). The inspection, which took place from September 10 to 17, 2026, aimed to assess the compliance of bakeries with standards related to hygiene, weight, working conditions, and administrative documents.
The meeting was a follow-up to a previous inspection conducted a year ago, which revealed significant shortcomings in the bakeries, leading to the closure and suspension of 13 bakeries. The ANMC provided training and regular on-site monitoring to support the bakeries in correcting these issues. Minister Seydou emphasized the importance of evaluating the progress made by bakery managers in improving their services to the population.
According to the minister, the recent inspection focused on administrative documents, infrastructure quality, production conditions, hygiene, equipment cleaning, and bread weight. The results showed that approximately 32% of the 109 inspected bakeries had a compliance rate above 66%, which is considered the tolerable threshold. However, 21.11% of bakeries had a compliance rate between 33 and 66%, and 23.85% had a rate below 33%, placing them in the "red zone."
Minister Seydou stressed that the objective is not to sanction but to encourage bakery managers to take responsibility for improving their activities, which ultimately benefits both the consumers and themselves. He noted that some bakeries were temporarily closed or had their activities suspended. The minister urged bakery managers to take the necessary steps to correct their shortcomings, emphasizing that it is in their own interest to provide quality services.
The minister granted the bakery managers a 72-hour deadline to address the identified shortcomings. Failure to comply will result in the suspension of their activities. Seydou emphasized that this measure is necessary to protect the interests of the population and ensure that bakeries provide quality products.
The Nigerien government has been working to improve the quality of services and products in various sectors, including the food industry. The ANMC plays a crucial role in monitoring and enforcing standards to ensure consumer protection. The government's efforts aim to promote a culture of quality and accountability among businesses, ultimately benefiting the population.
The bakery managers will be required to implement corrective measures within the given timeframe to avoid suspension. The Nigerien government is committed to supporting businesses in improving their operations and providing quality services to the population. The outcome of this initiative will be closely monitored to ensure its effectiveness in enhancing the quality of products and services in Niger.
Key points
- The Nigerien government has given bakery managers 72 hours to correct shortcomings identified during a recent inspection.
- Approximately 32% of inspected bakeries had a compliance rate above 66%, while 23.85% had a rate below 33%.
- The government's objective is to encourage bakery managers to improve their activities, ultimately benefiting both consumers and themselves.
