The Fit For Market programme technical support towards HACCP system certification of Spices Rwanda Ltd

Company background

Spices Rwanda Ltd is a whole dried chilli business in Rwamagana District, Eastern Province, Rwanda. The company was registered by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) in August 2017 under Tax Identification No. 107358351. Spices Rwanda Ltd works with different suppliers who produce raw chillies which they then sell to the company. The suppliers follow set instructions provided by Spices Rwanda Ltd to produce safe products that meet the specifications set by the company.

The chillies are grown, harvested, and dried by the growers, and then sold to the company where they are received, stored temporarily, sorted, packaged, and then shipped to the European market.

The Fit For Market programme support provided to Spices Rwanda Ltd

Support from the Fit For Market programme was given to Spices Rwanda Ltd in two different phases. Phase one support aimed at reviewing the current Spices Rwanda Ltd HACCP plan and identifying and documenting corrective actions that need to be taken for future HACCP system certification. Phase one support was carried out successfully, and a revised HACCP plan was developed. Based on gaps highlighted in HACCP system implementation, Spices Rwanda Ltd requested further support from the Fit For Market programme for technical assistance in HACCP system establishment, implementation, and maintenance. The request was accepted, and support offered from May to June 2020.

Phase two support from the Fit For Market programme involved training of Spices Rwanda Ltd staff on the general principles of food hygiene (Hygiene code of practice, CAC/CRP 1961; Food safety systems based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) – Requirements for any organization in the food chain, RS 184: 2017), and coaching in the development of HACCP documentation. Other beneficiaries also joined the training sessions, including two staff from the National Agriculture Export Development Board (NAEB) and two staff from East African Queen Ltd. Phase two technical support took place from November 2020 to February 2021.

Spices Rwanda Ltd self-sponsored activities

Since receiving technical support from the Fit For Market programme, Spices Rwanda Ltd has invested further into HACCP system implementation toward certification.

There was a delay in certification due to the unpredictable impact of COVID-19; however, Spices Rwanda Ltd has now been HACCP system certified by the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) since 20 May 2022.

© Spices Rwanda

This activity is supported by the Fit For Market programme, implemented by COLEACP within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union, and co-funded by the French Development Agency (AFD).