AETS has gained a significant experience in the strengthening of national and regional quality and conformity assessment infrastructures. Technical advice and training is being provided to institutions and control bodies in the following fields:
Establishment of quality council and affiliate executive directorate
Development and review of national quality policy
Advice on the harmonisation of technical regulations and conformity assessment mechanisms to facilitate regional and international trade (ASEAN, COMESA, ECOWAS…)
Establishment of standardisation, accreditation, certification, testing, inspection and metrology/calibration infrastructures
Capacity building in standardisation, testing, inspection and metrology/calibration bodies
Promotion of quality management for the operation of control bodies (laboratories, inspection services, metrology services…)
Improvement of equipment and techniques related to quality and conformity assessment through national and regional level training sessions
Expert assistance in the conduct of procurement contracts for official control laboratories and technical centres (EU and international procurement rules)
Enhancement of the representation of national structures on international and EU fora, as well as the implementation of mutual recognition agreements for the recognition of testing and certification results.
Enterprise Support
Dissemination and promotion of standards and technical regulations
Reduction of production costs and simplification of manufacturing processes
Setting up of management systems such as:
ISO 9001: Quality management
ISO 14001: Environmental management
ISO 17025: Accreditation of laboratory
ISO 22000: Food safety management systems
ISO 15161: Quality system for food and drink industry
ISO TS 16949: Quality management applied to automotive sector
AS 9100: Quality system requirements for suppliers of the aerospace industry…
Development of management models such as Total Management, EFQM…
Technical advice towards certification or accreditation
Development of business and promotion of activities.
SAFETY
Institutional Support
AETS can intervene in all the areas relating to safety and security with the support of its mother company, APAVE, French leader in risk management related fields. Its assistance missions include:
Food Safety
Review and modification of regulatory frameworks to bring them into compliance with international (or EU) requirements, such as those laid down in the TBT (Technical Barriers to Trade) and SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures) agreements of the World Trade Organisation, or EU legislation
Capacity building on GHP, GMP, HACCP, food testing (residues, contaminants)
Safety of Installations and products
Capacity building on the application of EU and International safety standards for products and industrial installations
Review and modification of regulatory frameworks for the safety of industrial installations (Oil & gas, Chemistry…)
Occupational Safety and Health
Identification and implementation of economic incentives for reducing the level of risk in enterprises and governmental infrastructures
Development and review of the regulatory framework in the field of OSH
Optimisation of safety and protection of network systems
Capacity building in OSH: transfer of knowledge and training
Improvement of equipment and techniques related to safety
Procurement of equipment and the preparation of public and EU tenders
Enhancement of representation in international and EU fora
Enterprise Support
Technical assistance to enterprises is a core activity of AETS. It relies on a network of experts, certified auditors and advisors, versed in OSH-oriented international projects. Technical advice and training is provided to:
Disseminate information on OSH regulations, standards, norms and practices
Improve crisis management capacities
Reduce risks of accidents and improve current safety management systems
Set-up safety management systems, such as OHSAS 18001
Development of management models such as Total Management, EFQM…
Develop competencies and expertise in OSH (by the design and implementation of training and workshops)
Accompany towards certification and conduct audits
Develop business and promote activities
Prevent risk of infringement, vandalism, diversion of information…
Our references
Training workshop on the EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF)
AETS has been entrusted by the Directorate General for health and consumer protection of the EC(DG SANCO)with organising regional workshops on the EU RASFF and possibilities to implement similar systems in other regions of the world.
A rapid alert system for food has been operating within the European Commission since 1979 and was included in the EU Food Legislation (regulation 178/2002, Chap. IV) in 2002 as the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). The RASFF is a tool for exchanging information between food and feed control authorities in member states in cases where a risk to human health has been identified and measures have been taken, such as withholding, recalling, seizing or rejecting products. When food and feed not complying with the EU food safety standards are detected on the EU market or at the border, all authorities throughout Europe are informed. They can take action accordingly to ensure the highest level of protection for the European consumer.
The aim of the project is to inform third countries about the EU RASFF and to review with them the possibility and implications of developing similar systems, with a view to improving food quality and safety in their regions.
In 2007, three workshops will be held in China, ASEAN and MERCOSUR.
Details of the programme are available on the web-site of the project website www.foodinfo-europe.com.
Training for Third Countries on EU Food Standards
Following the success of the project in 2006, the Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protection (DG-Sanco) has extended its contract with AETS for 2007.
In 2006 AETS - with its partners Ainia and Aenor - provided expert services and project management skills to DG Sanco for the implementation of six regional training workshops, on EU legislation for fishery and aquaculture products as well as fruits and vegetables. The workshops were held in Indonesia, Salvador, Colombia, Malaysia, Senegal and Tanzania. A total of 409 participants from 50 different countries and five regional organisations were trained, in French, English and Spanish.
In 2007, seven regional workshops will be organized. Five events will address EU legislation on fishery and aquaculture products (South East Asia, Chile, Morocco, Mauritius and Abu Dhabi), one event will focus on EU legislation for fruits and vegetables (Egypt), and one workshop will address the EU legislation on food contact materials.
Details of the programme are available on the web-site of the project website www.foodinfo-europe.com.
Chile, colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Morocco, Salvador, Senegal, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam
MULTI Asia and America
Peru, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Asean, Ghana, Athens
Thailand, Ukraine, Chile, Tanzania, Malta, Russia, China, USA, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Nicaragua, Paraguay, South Korea, Peru, India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Kenya
Vietnam, South Africa, Jordan, Italy, Indonesia, Philippines, Argentina, Chile, Guatemala, Morocco, Tunisia, Mauritania, Mauritius, French Polynesia, Algeria
