Local Tunisian carpet manufacture is supported by government subsidies and therefore must pass state quality controls. A label affixed to the back of the carpet gives details about quality, texture, dimensions, pattern, type, and date of manufacture.

Standards of carpet manufacture and traditional weaving have been determined by ONA (the National Office of Craftsmanship) and by INNORPI (the National Institute of Industrial Standards – like the American OSHA).

These norms specify which primary materials are used in the production, and determine the qualities attributed to the finished product by the official stamp dispensed by the ONA.

As is already mentioned above, the stamp takes into consideration, in addition to the base materials used, the artistic and physical aspects of the finished product.

Carpets that do not meet state standards of excellence are therefore not granted the prestigious label, and cannot be sold.

The following criteria are used to refuse the label to carpets judged to be defective :

• If they do not conform to specified texture types.
• If they are determined to have any of the following flaws :

-fading or variation in color, either in the background or on the pattern or design,
-visible irregularity in nap or fringe.
-warping or pulling in the surface of carpet.
-tears or holes in the carpet

Mohamed Rebai
info@kairouan.org