Produits d'hygiène menstruelle : L'ISO et ses partenaires renforcent l'application des normes au Sénégal
In Senegal, strengthening the quality and safety of hygiene products is now a major challenge for public health, consumer protection and national industrial development.
As the country continues its efforts to structure its productive capacities and promote local industrial transformation, the promotion of "Made in Senegal" and the modernization of quality systems constitute strategic levers to support sustainable growth.
It is with this in mind that a delegation composed of representatives from the Senegalese Standards Association (ASN), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the Swedish Institute for Standards (SIS) carried out technical missions throughout the country. This work is part of an international project dedicated to strengthening capacities and the application of standards relating to menstrual hygiene products.
Supporting local manufacturers towards compliance
The main objective of this mission is to map existing capacities, production and control processes, conformity assessment mechanisms, and testing and technical expertise needs. The stated aim is to establish a precise overview of the Senegalese ecosystem so that future ISO standards, once adopted nationally, can be directly applied by stakeholders in the sector rather than remaining theoretical frameworks.
In this context, the delegation visited the Softcare company's sanitary napkin production site. Discussions with the technical teams focused on industrial capacity, quality processes, and the challenges faced by local producers. This field visit provided insight into the realities of the national industrial landscape and the conditions necessary for adopting international standards.
Based in Senegal, Softcare contributes to the development of local production and actively participates in discussions around standardization and strengthening technical skills, thus facilitating household access to essential hygiene products.
This initiative illustrates the importance of synergy between public institutions, international standards bodies, and the private sector. Beyond the specific sector of menstrual hygiene, raising quality standards is part of broader public health objectives and the improvement of living conditions for populations.
