BUREAU VERITAS BIVAC BV RDC STRENGTHENS OCC CAPACITY WITH HIGH LEVEL TRAINING ON INTERNAL AUDIT OF ISO/IEC 17025:2017

As part of its ongoing commitment to strengthen the verification of the conformity of imported product entering in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bureau Veritas BIVAC BV RDC recently organized a high-level training program for the Congolese Control Office (OCC). Held from September 15 to 19 in Lubumbashi, the session focused on internal auditing of ISO/IEC 17025:2017, in accordance with the guidelines of ISO 19011: 2018.

This initiative forms part of the capacity-building framework under the contract between BIVAC and the OCC for controlling goods entering the country. By enhancing OCC staff competencies, BIVAC supports the reliability and conformity of testing and calibration results across the OCC’s laboratories nationwide.

Comprehensive Training for Audit Excellence

Led by Dr. Younes, an international expert from Morocco, the five-day program brought together OCC managers and officers from several provinces, including Kinshasa, Haut-Katanga, and the East. Participants received practical instruction on all stages of the audit process—from planning and conducting interviews to gathering evidence, drafting reports, and identifying non-conformities.

Each participant received a certificate recognizing their new skills, which will help strengthen OCC’s internal audit practices and ensure its laboratories meet international standards.

“This training exemplifies BIVAC's commitment to building sustainable quality infrastructure in the DRC,” said Olivier Lederer, Operations Manager, Bureau Veritas. “By investing in OCC partners, we’re enabling them to apply a professional and ethical approach to auditing, essential for maintaining credibility and quality.”

A Partnership that Adds Value

The training highlights the value-added partnership between BIVAC and the OCC, reflecting BIVAC’s commitment to not only providing control services but also building local capacity and transferring expertise.

“This initiative shows our strong collaboration with the OCC and our shared commitment to excellence,” said Dieudonné Lukalu, BIVAC’s Technical Manager. “BIVAC remains firmly engaged in supporting the OCC to meet international quality and compliance standards.”

As a subsidiary of Bureau Veritas, BIVAC brings world-class expertise and over 190 years of expertise in testing, inspection, and certification in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

This training is one of many actions undertaken by BIVAC to accompany its partners in their pursuit of operational excellence, demonstrating Bureau Veritas’ ongoing commitment to reliability, compliance, and capacity building in Africa.