Nation Online

Certification delays worry Ovop

Thirty-three One Village One Product (Ovop) cooperatives have said they cannot take their products to the market because the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) is delaying to license their products.

Ovop director Kamia Sulumba said the issue of certification is long overdue and cooperatives are losing out.

"There are a number of challenges facing cooperatives such as lack of capital and delays in certifying them. As at now, 33 cooperatives are still waiting for certificates from the Malawi Bureau of Standards," said Sulumba.

He said most of these cooperatives are in agro-processing and can help the country save a lot of forex.

But MBS director general Davlin Chokazinga said his institution is not delaying the process only that most cooperatives are yet to meet the required standards.

"We look at several issues before a certificate is issued and some of the cooperatives are failing to meet quality and hygienic standards," said Chokazinga.

He said five cooperatives qualified and urged the 33 to learn from them.