MEETING OF THE CLASSIFICATION/METROLOGY TECHNICAL COMMISSION - AFRICAN COTTON ASSOCIATION (A.C.A.) - MINUTES

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1 MEETING OF THE CLASSIFICATION/METROLOGY TECHNICAL COMMISSION - AFRICAN COTTON ASSOCIATION (A.C.A.) - MINUTES Cotonou, 11 to 12 December, Page 1 of 7

2 The A.C.A Classification/Metrology Technical Commission met in Cotonou, from 11 to 12 December, 2014, within the Association s Head Office Meeting Hall. The target purpose was to exchange views and harmonize member countries approaches towards a better development of African cotton. Classification Managers of Cotton Companies from Benin, Cameroon, Côte d Ivoire, Mali, Senegal, Chad and Togo took part in the meeting (viz. attached attendance list). It should be noted that Sudan s representative, Mr. Abdelmotleb Osman Yousif, although quite willing to, could not arrive in Cotonou, due to air travel unforeseen difficulties. Specifically speaking, the meeting aimed: - Reviewing the actual situation regarding the quality charter implementation and anti-contamination efforts per country; - Discussing about African cotton standards and highlight future perspectives; - Considering various issues regarding the improvement of cotton quality. OPENING CEREMONY The opening ceremony was chaired by Mr. Adeyemi A. FAHALA, A.C.A Permanent Secretary. After welcoming the participants and recalling the purpose of the meeting, he asked them to set up a Presidium to run the proceedings. PROCEEDINGS Subsequently, a three-member presidium was set up, consisting of: Mr. MADALA Camille, of Cameroon: Chairman; Mr. YALCOUYE Dahirou, of Mali: 1 st Rapporteur; Mr. TCHALLA Limdeyou, of Togo: 2 nd Rapporteur. Proceedings centred on the above-mentioned topics as outlined in the following table: Page 2 of 7

3 1. Quality Charter Implementation and Anti-Contamination Drive in each Country: Actual Situation ITEMS TOGO BENIN CHAD SENEGAL RCI MALI CAMEROON Observation of all the technical paths recommended by research institutes Done Done Done oui Done Done Done Timely harvests with several collection outings Sorting out of cotton at harvest time, while strictly banning the use of PP-made containers during transportation, packaging or warehousing Providing all the farmers with cotton-made harvest kits (harvest bags, purchase wrappers and storage/transport tarpaulins). Strictly prohibiting the use of PP materials to packs small bales Drying, stocking and transporting with care YES YES YES YES YES YES YES Done Done Done YES Done Done Done Done Done Done Done Done Done Done YES YES YES YES YES YES YES Done Done Done Done Done Done Done Clean markets YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES Training and sensitising farmers and companies staff as a whole on appropriate techniques, harvest techniques and anti- Page 3 of 7

4 ITEMS TOGO BENIN CHAD SENEGAL RCI MALI CAMEROON contamination drive. Revising, thoroughly maintenaing the industrial plant and transport logistics in order to enhance quality. Banning, at the earliest time possible, the use of PP-made packaging materials for bales (and replacing these with noncontaminating materials), preferably cotton-made. Ensuring handling and storage methods in a way as to preserve the integrity and cleanness of bales, in the factory as well as in the port warehouses before shipment. Done Done Done Done Done YES Done Non YES Non YES YES YES YES Done Done Non YES Certified since 2005 Done Done Done Setting up a system to collect or receive customers complaints, in order to appraise the degree of their satisfaction and take into consideration their possible suggestions. Implementing as soon as possible a quality management system in accordance with the ISO Standards. Done Done Done Done Done Done Done In progress In progress In progress In progress In progress In progress In progress Page 4 of 7

5 2- Discussion on the African Cotton Standards and Future Perspectives (Set Goals and Attainment thereof) The African Cotton Standards designed in 2005 aimed at: - Providing a reference yardstick for African cotton quality; - Enhancing the brand image of African cotton; - Promoting and developing African cotton in the world market. The set of 2005 Standards that was designed in Sandouville, Havre, with the assistance of our technical partners (SOSEA, AFCOT), and recognized by AFCOT, continues to serve as the basis to ascertain shortcomings when and where trade claims arise. Generally speaking, these standards have been widely published. But, the set of 2009 and 2013 standards that was designed in Africa, without the participation of other partners, have not reached the expected goals, relatively to the set of 2005 standards, due to the following shortcomings: - Low participation of all the concerned African countries, owing to the required formalities regarding Intra-African travels, which are rather costly both for men and cotton bales; - Absence of Technical Partners; - Low extension of or poor publicity on the designed standard boxes. In order to make up for these shortcomings and thereby enable African standards to reach its target goals, the Commission hereby formulates the following suggestions to A.C.A: - Embarking on prior discussions on the relevant implementation modalities (venue, logistics, funding, etc.) with all the technical partners (SOSEA, AFCOT, CERFITEX, etc.); - Involving all the partners in the process of designing African Standards and aligning them with each country s sales types; - Circulating such African standard boxes widely known at various levels (Cotton Companies, Arbitration Chambers, Chambers of Commerce, Dealers, etc.). Page 5 of 7

6 3- Actions to improve quality. Within the framework of continuous quality improvement, upon due discussions, the Commission made the following suggestions: a) During May 2015, organizing at CERFITEX, Segou, Mali, a workshop to harmonize quality appraisal procedures applicable in classification halls (Terms of Reference should be worked out by Benin and Senegal within two months), namely: Procedure to determine contaminants; Use of CMI and interpretation of results. b) Conducting a study and experience-sharing trip of French-speaking countries actors to English-speaking countries (Tanzania, Zimbabwe) and vis-versa; c) Organizing, in Bobo-Dioulasso, a workshop on the set up of a quality management system at the level of laboratories (ISO Accreditation Standards). It belongs to A.C.A to source for funds from such donors as AU, UEMOA, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECOWAS, SADEC, ADB, OCI, UNIDO, C4CP, USAID, COTTON COMPANIES, etc. Finally, participants recommend that all the countries concerned should endeavour to centralise classification halls. Made in Cotonou, this 12th Day of December, 2014 Singed for and on behalf of the Classification/Metrology Technical Commission: MADALA Camille, Cameroon: Chairman; YALCOUYE Dahirou, Mali: 1st Rapporteur; TCHALLA Limdeyou, Togo: 2 nd Rapporteur. Page 6 of 7

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