Tunisian Harissa 'Food Quality Label'

The Project on market access for agrofood and typical products in Tunisia (French acronym PAMPAT Tunisia) aims at improving the performance, market access and socio-economic conditions of producers in three selected value chains around traditional, regional  flagship products, namely Harissa, fig of Djebba and the cactus/prickly pear in Kasserine. PAMPAT is being implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in collaboration with the Tunisian Ministries of Industry and Agriculture. The project is financed by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

The project focuses on strengthening the governance of the selected value chains, improving the productivity and promoting product diversification of the micro, small and medium enterprises involved. The project also aims at enhancing the positioning of the three supported regional flagship products in both domestic and export markets through a collective approach. Additionnally, the PAMPAT project promotes the products’ compliance with the requirements of the Tunisian quality labels and geographical indications in order to position the agrofood products in niche markets thus increasing the revenues and employment opportunities in the three value chains. Special attention is being placed in supporting young entrepreneurs, women and those producers located in disadvantaged regions.

 

Regarding the harissa value chain, the PAMPAT project has assisted the Ministry of Industry and the public-private Tunisian Group for Canned Food Products (GICA) to set-up the certification and control system of the voluntary labelling standard “Food Quality Label Tunisia”.  Industrial companies interested in certifying their harissa production need to apply stringent product specifications and undergo a double check, both from the managing body of the label GICA and an external certification institute.

The project has also provided technical assistance to nine harissa companies to set-up the required traceability system along the supply chain and comply with the product specifications. The latter were published in December 2014 by decision of the Minister of Industry. Today five companies have started producing certified “Food Quality Label” harissa. It is expected that 4 additional companies will follow at the end of 2016.

With the support of the PAMPAT project and GICA, the five companies SICAM, JOUDA, COMOCAP, CARTHAGE FOOD and STICAP, which account for one third of total industrial harissa production in Tunisia, have already started promoting together their certified harissa. The new label is being presented in several countries such as Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Spain and USA.