As part of its integration program and on the basis of extensive consultations, ECOWAS has developed a Regional Quality Policy that reflects the needs of Member States. This policy provides an essential basis for the harmonization and development of National Quality Policies that will guide the establishment of National Quality Infrastructures, adapted, effective and internationally recognized.

Indeed, on the proposal of the Meeting of Ministers in charge of Quality of ECOWAS Member States held on 19 October 2012 in Niamey (Niger), and on the recommendation of the sixty-ninth ordinary session of the Council of Ministers held in Abidjan, from November 30 to December 2, 2012, and by the Additional Act A / SA.1 / 02/13 adopting the ECOWAS Quality Policy and its implementation framework, the ECOWAS Quality Policy (ECOQUAL) and its implementation framework are adopted. This was done during the forty-second ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in Yamoussoukro on 27 and 28 February 2013.

The general vision of the ECOWAS Quality Policy is to maintain a strong industrial structure that is globally competitive, environmentally friendly and capable of significantly improving the living conditions of people by 2030.

The ECOWAS Quality Policy aims to ensure the economic competitiveness of the region through the provision of world-class quality goods and services, as well as an effective protection of consumers and the environment. ECOQUAL aims to establish a framework for the development and the operating of adequate, relevant and effective Quality Infrastructure to facilitate intra-regional and international trade, protect the consumer and the environment, and promote sustainable economic development.

The ECOWAS member States are therefore working to ensure the harmonization of national quality policies with the ECOWAS Quality Policy as described in the Additional Act.