Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
The European Union funded Project SARD III have organized a five-day April 18 – 23 “Lead auditor of quality management system based on ISO 9001:2015 (IRCA)” course. The course was held within the framework of the “Support to Further Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in Turkmenistan – SARD III” Project.
The training’s target audience included specialists of the food-testing laboratory of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan, specialists of the GS1 National Organization of Turkmenistan for Barcodes, and quality management system auditors and senior consultants. The main objective was to train the specialists and establish a cadre of food safety management system (FSMS) and food quality management system (QMS) specialists and consultants to bring their practices up to a level that would allow certification of their FSMS and QMS.
“SARD III is focused on private sector agriculture engaging with all stakeholders in the agro-food value chain”, said Arthur Russell, Team Leader, SARD III Project, when addressing participants at the beginning of the course. “Food Safety is a vital element and has a crucial role to play in helping Turkmenistan’s agro-food value chain achieve its true potential in terms of competing successfully with and thereby reducing the level of imports of food that can be successfully and competitively produced here in Turkmenistan and longer term competing on export markets where Turkmenistan has unique advantages”.
The training course has the status of an IRCA Approved Course and was conducted by the qualified trainer and QMS auditor approved by IRCA. IRCA (International Register of Certificated Auditors) is the leading professional body for management system auditors. Participants analyzed management processes based on ISO 9001 QMS, discussed audit variations and evaluation processes, and studied audit planning and techniques. Upon completion of the course, participants took a written final exam. Those participants who pass the final examination will receive the Lead Auditor of Quality Management System based on ISO 9001:2015 certificate issued by IRCA.
The Activity was part of SARD III activities aimed at supporting the Government of Turkmenistan to increase competitiveness and exports of local food producing and processing enterprises through the support for updating food safety and quality practices and capacity, as well as strengthening the capacity building of institutions in the agro-food sector.
For more information, please contact:
Viktoriya Frolova
Public Relations Specialist E-mail: [email protected]
