By Laurina B Lormia
(Cub-Reporter)
The Director General of Liberia Standards Authority, Kansualism Berk Kansuah, has vowed to increase Liberia export and reduction of import-based commerce commodities through the adequate and efficient laboratory chemical and scientist testing.
According to him, Liberian products, particularly commerce commodities, have not been able to compete in the global market through export, due to lack of standardized scientific and chemical testing to meet international standards.
“Most of the food or things that Liberians consume are shortening their life span, something that we are committed to changing through quality testing, to ensure that the Liberian market gets the best products which match international standards,” he stressed.
Liberia has a very good soil, climatic condition, and good rainy forest; our local farmers and entrepreneurs have been producing local products that they should be earning millions of dollars from on the global markets, but they have not, because it has not been tested to conform with international standards.
“This entity was created to ensure quality assurance with all of the goods and services that enter Liberia, so we are urging all Liberians to be a part of enhancing national trade, health, and safety by joining the Liberia Standards Authority in promoting quality infrastructure services through quality testing,” he narrated.
“Any goods that do not meet international standards will not be allowed to enter the Liberian market; we are going to do that to increase Liberian export, and at the same time, conduct a rigorous testing of commodities coming in our country to ensure they are safe.”
“Recently, there has been a number of uncontrollable fire disasters across the country, due to substandard electrical appliances that are coming in the country; Liberians will no longer have such experience because we will activate the electrical lab to ensure that electrical appliances are properly tested before getting on the market,” he said.
Majority of the pharmacies are not in good condition; there are lots of expired drugs that are sold out to people. We will ensure that our people’s livelihood is secure and trade is promoted; people should add value to the products they are sending to Liberia.
Meanwhile, the institution is also working towards reducing trade barriers, because most of the time, Liberians want to participate in the global and regional areas, but they can’t due to the lack of testing of locally made products, so we will be conducting quality testing, both chemical and scientific, on food products to meet international standards before being placed on the Liberian market.
