The Congolese Agency for Standardization and Quality (ACONOQ) has just set up the “Ku Suek” standard and its label intended to increase health measures within agrifood companies. Discussions began on July 31 in Brazzaville with managers of hotel-restaurant-café chains on the application of this new guide.
According to the general manager of ACONOQ, Jean Jacques Ngoko Mouyabi, the health benchmark is part of the fight against the spread of the coronavirus in connection with the barrier measures enacted by the government. “We have a standard, it is a guide that allows us to see that the manager has effectively put in place barrier and health measures in connection with the standard. We have even gone further by designing a label that is supposed to materialize the company’s commitment to respect the barrier measures, ”he said.
This sanitary system is compulsory for food chains and public spaces. The manager of the restaurant or cafe can then apply for the label with a specification that contains all the criteria, including organization, eligibility and health requirements. Displaying the label in a restaurant, cafe or hotel means that these signs comply with the health standards.
The “Ku Suek” repository contains the rules of access to the site, the handling of raw materials, the site and equipment disinfection process, personnel transport, purchasing, subcontracting. There is also the prevention and management of health emergencies. The acquisition of a label is not final. If the labelled brand does not comply with the requirements related to the barrier measures described in the standard, the agency can withdraw its label.
One of the subjects of the meeting between the agency and the managers of the hotel, restaurant and café business concerns the rates to be paid. The success of this initiative will depend in part on the agreement between Aconoq and the hotel, restaurant and café chains hit hard by the coronavirus health crisis.
