This mission to Cameroon, Nigeria and the Côte d'lvoire in connection with the ANRA project on the improvement of natural rubber quality, contributed towards organization of the SAR network interlaboratory comparison programme and was used to provide central laboratory managers with training in statistics applied to quality control. The protocol for the interlaboratory comparison programme was modified and the first cycle is due to take place shortly. Statistical techniques for measuring variability were explained in each country and details were given of computerized calculations using JMP software.