29 Jul 2018

Botswana National Veterinary Laboratory (BNVL) is the third veterinary laboratory in the 13 SADC member states serviced by Southern African Development Community (SADCAS) and the 18^th facility in Botswana to be accredited by SADC accreditation body, SADCAS.

Speaking at handing over ceremony held at Botswana National Veterinary Laboratory, SADCAS chief executive officer, Ms Maureen Mutasa said through accreditation, BNVL had been granted the unique accreditation number VET 003, indicating that BNVL is now a SADCAS accredited veterinary laboratory in the scopes: microbiology, bacteriology, histopathology, virology/serology and chemistry.

The accreditation covers two sides that the BNVL and Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI), which was also accredited in virology/serology.

Mr Mutasa said the certificate was re-issued on 20 March and valid for five years until 19 March 2023.

She noted that BNVL had been accredited in 40 test methods covering the five scopes, the largest scope and test methods that SADCAS has accredited for one facility.

“The international standard ISO/IEC 17025 that the BNVL has been accredited to has been revised with the new standard having been published on November 30, 2017,” she said.

Ms Mutasa noted the international Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) had already agreed on the three-year transition from date of publication of the revised version of ISO/IEC 17025.

She mentioned that SADCAS has already issued a transition policy TR 14 and launched training courses on the new standards.

She encouraged the BNVL to ensure that they meet the transition time lines so as to maintain warranted internationally recognised accreditation.

For his part, deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Dr John Moreki congratulated BNVL team for being able to maintain and expand the scope of accreditation as a major achievement.

Accreditation is a requirement for important international markets which include the high paying European Union (EU) single market and other emerging markets such as the Middle East and Asia, he said.

“I know the journey to accreditation has not been without challenges. Equally difficult has been maintaining the accreditation status or expansion of the scope of accreditation. It involves hard work, commitment in terms of time and resources. I therefore urge you to continue to work even harder and more diligently to maintain the scope of accreditation under SADCAS,“ he said.

Dr Moreki urged BNVL to increase the number of accreditation tests over time.

He thanked SADCAS for the professionalism they had demonstrated and their immense support and guidance in the whole process. ENDS