Quality certification trends in the Zimbabwean food industry.

Abstract

Concerns have been raised by regulatory authorities about the low levels of certification for international standards in the Zimbabwean manufacturing sector. The purpose of this study was to determine trends in Quality Management Systems certification and the constraints encountered in achieving certification in the Zimbabwean food processing industry. Information on company status regarding quality, food safety and environmental management certification and associated costs was gathered from fifteen large, eight media, five small and ten micro scale food manufacturing enterprises through questionnaire surveys and oral interviews. Participants were based in the Southern city of Bulawayo and the Midlands cities of Gweru and Kwekwe, Zimbabwe. Only the large-scale manufacturing enterprises were certified for Quality and Food Safety Management Systems, with a certification rate of 60% amongst large concerns for at least one standard, 40% for ISO 9001, 27% for ISO 22000, 27% for the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point System, 20% for ISO 14001, and 20% for the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) Quality Mark. None of the micro or small scale enterprises had any intention for certification due to perceived high cost, lack of staff with adequate quality management system implementation skills and failure of premises to meet statutory requirements for food production facilities.