The field of standardization in the Democratic Republic of Congo is experiencing a major step forward with the adoption of three new national standards concerning biofortified crops. These standards, resulting from projects supported by HarvestPlus with funding from World Bank, were endorsed during an extraordinary session of the National Standardization Committee (CNN) held on Friday, April 11, 2025, in Kinshasa.
The validated projects concern: maize and rice enriched with zinc; beans enriched with iron and zinc; and maize, cassava, and sweet potato enriched with provitamin A (carotenoids). Initially developed according to international standards, these standards were adopted identically as Congolese national standards, thanks to a rigorous process conducted by the Technical Commission, composed of experts from the nutrition, agriculture, and agri-food sectors. A Step Forward for Public HealthAt the end of the deliberations, six out of seven members of the National Standardization Committee voted in favor, with only one abstention, thus validating the adoption of the three standards.
Jean-Parfait Ntabala Murhandikire, Secretary-General for Industry and Chairman of the CNN, welcomed HarvestPlus’s contribution within the framework of the Multi-sectoral Nutrition and Health Program (PMNS), funded by the World Bank. He also expressed his gratitude to the Minister of Industry, Louis Watum Kabamba, for enabling this session to be held under optimal conditions.
« Thanks to these standards, our populations will have access to staple foods enriched with essential nutrients, which will contribute to growth, health, and the fight against malnutrition, » emphasized Jean-Parfait Ntabala.
According to Jeannot Chabusubura, Chairman of the Technical Commission and Head of Division at the Center for Documentation and Training on Standards (OCC), this adoption is strategic for public health: « Biofortification consists of increasing the nutritional density of crops. These new standards will technically frame the production and marketing of these products on the Congolese market. »
For his part, Mpanga Mbuya Gauthier, Executive Secretary of the National Electrotechnical Committee, stressed that these standards meet a real public health need and will allow the DRC to develop and promote enriched local crops.
Michel Konandge, Director of Standardization at the General Secretariat for Industry and Secretary of the CNN, highlighted the importance of normative references to distinguish, for example, enriched maize from ordinary maize.
The work of the Technical Commission took place from April 9 to 10, 2025, in the meeting room of the General Secretariat for SMEs.
Christiane EKAMBO
