The harmonized standards are to be adopted by individual African countries, facilitating cross-border trade, under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). There are 1432 international automotive standards worldwide largely developed by the International Organization for Standardizations and the American Society for Testing and Materials. To initiate the process of developing African Automotive standards, ARSO prioritized what is referred to as “Whole Vehicle Standards” encompassing motor vehicle components, accessories, and replacement parts. ARSO is planning to launch the completed harmonized African Automotive standards by June 2021 in six countries, namely Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Dr Hermogene Nsengimana, ARSO’s Secretary-General, said: “Harmonization of Automotive sector standards is a collective effort of ARSO Members States, private sector players and regulatory agencies.

Source: GhanaWeb June 11, 2021 14:15 UTC