Substandard rods from various sources flood the market, endangering construction efforts.

Construction or iron rods have been in the spotlight for some time now. Reason: Dealers in the product (importers and local producers) are doing everything but respecting standards set for production and sale of the indispensable product. Rods of 6, 8, 10, and 12 cm are often shorter or smaller in size. Proof, the Ministry of Trade recently confiscated over 300,000 substandard rods from unscrupulous business people in the country. Since then, tongues have been wagging on the whereabouts of these rods and what is being done by the multiple stakeholders to ensure the respect, to the letter, of national and international norms.

Their Origin

According to the Regional Delegate for Trade for the Centre, Nicanor Ndjinang Zanga, construction rods in the market are either produced locally or imported from China, Asia, and Turkey et al. There are actors like Prometal, Fokou, Afrique Construction and Sorepco, among others. Mr. Nicanor underlined that the problem with the rods are at the level of length and diametre. People presenting and selling 5.5-metre for 6 metres and 11.5-metre rods for 12 metres etc. Those importing are issued waivers to facilitate importation after which quality controls are supposed to be carried out so as to issue certificates of conformity before the product gets to the market.

Normally, when the products enter the country or are produced locally, quality controls are supposed to be carried out on them by the Civil Engineering Laboratory (LABOGENIE) after which the Standards and Quality Agency (ANOR) issues Certificates of Conformity. Until now, what obtains is everything but this. Whether dealers actually import or produce what the certificates indicate remains a myth. However, the market is inundated with everything but standard iron rods which is telling of the existing cacophony in the sector.

The Missing Link

It emerged from a face-to-face meeting between stakeholders in the Ministry of Trade that once an importer gets the waiver, he quickly ferries in the products and goes right ahead to distribute. Be it Afrique Construction, Fokou or Prometal, the story was the same. While some claimed ignorance, others said ANOR and LABOGENIE needed to come and carry out the quality control at the seaport. “We did not know that we needed to obtain another certificate after importation or production,” they all said.

After the meeting, things seem much clearer now. Dealers must produce certificates of conformity before selling; without which the sledge harmer of the Control Unit of Fraud and Repression of the Ministry of Trade will not spare them. Mr Zanga told this reporter on March 30, 2012 that a control team comprising LABOGENIE, ANOR, representatives of civil engineers and officials of the delegation are to visit markets in Yaounde this week to ensure total compliance on the part of dealers.