People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria
Ministry of Internal Trade and National Market Regulation

Algerian Center for Quality Control and Packaging

Arabic French

Introduction

Introduction to the Algerian Center for Quality Control and Packaging.

THE CACQE

The Algerian Centre for Quality Control and Packaging (CACQE) is a public administrative institution (EPA) with legal personality and financial independence. It operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Internal Trade and National Market Regulation.

The centre was established by Executive Decree No. 89-147 dated August 8, 1989 amended and supplemented by Executive Decree No. 03-318 dated September 30, 2003.

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Headquarters of the General Management.

According to the joint ministerial decision dated 8 Dhou El Kaada 1443 corresponding to June 8, 2022 which defines the internal organization of CACQE, its annexes, and affiliated laboratories, the centre is managed by a General Director, assisted by a Secretary General and four directors. The centre includes four annexes located in Algiers, Constantine, Oran, and Ouargla, with 42 laboratories for quality analysis and fraud repression, with more laboratories under construction aimed at a total of 58 nationwide. The centre also has a steering committee that addresses all issues related to the centre’s activities and is supported by a Scientific and Technical Committee , which studies license requests for opening quality analysis laboratories and preliminary licenses for the manufacture and import of hazardous materials, cosmetics, and cleaning products. The Centre acts as the The Centre acts as the secretariat for these committees. Furthermore, CACQE manages the secretariat of the National Codex Alimentarius Committee , established by Executive Decree No. 05-67 dated January 30, 2005, which defines its tasks and structure. The Centre operates as a technical support hub for the external services of the Ministry of Commerce responsible for quality control and product safety. It also supports economic operators in the continuous improvement of national products.

TASKS AND ACTIVITIES

The main tasks of the Centre focus on protecting consumer health and safety, summarized as:

  • - Participating in investigations of fraud, counterfeiting, and violations of laws and regulations related to the quality of goods and services ;
  • - Verifying that products conform to legal or regulatory standards and specifications;
  • - Managing and developing quality control and fraud repression laboratories ;
  • - Promoting the quality of national production of goods and services ;
  • - Providing technical and scientific support to quality control and fraud repression services ;
  • - Participating in the preparation of standards for goods and services presented to consumers at various national technical committees ;
  • - Consumer information, communication, and awareness;
  • - Supporting economic operators in quality control of market products and services.

MAIN ANALYTICAL ACTIVITIES OF THE LABORATORIES

The analytical control performed by the quality analysis and fraud repression laboratories covers various consumer goods in the market, both imported and locally produced. The average number of samples processed by the laboratories is expected to increase, especially after the laboratories under construction become operational.

The laboratories conduct physical chemical and microbiological analyses in areas including:

  • - Food products ;
  • - Cosmetics and personal cleaning products ;
  • - Industrial products, particularly testing and control of gas-operated household electrical appliances at the Constantine laboratory.

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For detailed analyses, some laboratories assess the toxicity of biological and chemical contaminants in food, such as heavy metals, pesticide residues, natural and bacterial toxins, which pose health and consumer safety risks.

• DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS

Considering the global economic situation and trade with many countries as Algeria has ratified international agreements such as the African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA et la grande zone arabe de libre échange GAFTA , the centre is strengthening its structures by:

  • - Implementing the centre’s internal regulations ;
  • - Implementing the decision dated June 7, 2021, defining the list of works and services that the centre may charge fees for ;
  • - Continuing the accreditation process of quality analysis and fraud repression laboratories, having accredited eight laboratories to confirm the competence of laboratories conducting conformity assessment operations; a critical factor in promoting exports ;
  • - Acquiring new scientific equipment aligned with the laboratories' accreditation process.

• SUPPORTING EXPORTING ECONOMIC OPERATORS

In line with promoting foreign trade and according to directives from the highest state authorities, the centre assists economic operators in the export sector by analysing export oriented products and issuing conformity certificates. Additionally, the centre provides economic operators with all relevant information regarding product quality and compliance.

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