the crosq standards quarterly newsletter - july 2015

B U I L D I N G C A P A C I T Y • D E L I V E R I N G Q U A L I T Y

N E W S L E T T E RSTANDARDSQUARTERLY

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The mood was celebratory; the occasion, certainly a cause for celebration. It was the Accreditation Ceremony for the Guyana Rice Development Board’s Central Laboratory.

And what was significant about this achievement, beyond a simple accreditation, was that it represented a series of firsts for Guyana and the Caribbean region. The GRDB was the first laboratory to attain accreditation in the food testing area in Guyana; the first to have achieved this accreditation through the CARTFund Project; the first to be assisted towards achieving accreditation by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) functioning as the National Accreditation Focal Point (NAFP); the first to become accredited outside of Jamaica utilising the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC); and the first to become accredited through the Caribbean Cooperation for Accreditation (CCA) Scheme created by the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ).

Thus cause for celebration.

In congratulating the GRDB at a special ceremony convened in Guyana to mark the occasion, CEO of CROSQ, Mr. Deryck Omar highlighted the assistance that had been provided by CROSQ to the GNBS over the years in an attempt to harmonise the national quality infrastructure in Member States. This, he noted, included the assistance provided to GNBS as the NAFP to give technical support to the Central Laboratory in Guyana in terms of coaching and the calibration of equipment used in the lab.

“This accreditation exemplifies an excellent example of regional integration . . . Through the CCA Scheme, the National Accreditation Bodies such as JANAAC can provide their accreditation services to conformity assessment bodies across the region as most countries do not have the resources for the sustainable creation and functioning of an accreditation body. With the CCA Scheme, conformity assessment bodies receive coaching, training and development assistance towards

A Series Of Firsts For Guyana

Vo l u m e 7 . I s s u e 3 . J u l y 2 0 1 5

Chairman of the Guyana Rice Development Board, Mr. Badri Persaud accepting the Accreditation Certificate from CEO of JANAAC, Mrs. Sharonmae Shirley (left) at the accreditation ceremony recently, while General Manager, Mr. Jagnarine Singh and Quality Manager, Mrs.Allison Peters look on.

Programme Officer with CARTFund partner DFID, Ms. Rosanne Kadir, shares a light moment with CROSQ representatives, (from left) Mr. Rus-sell Franklyn, Mr. Deryck Omar and Mr. Trumel Redmond.

Cont’d on page 3



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A number of CARIFORUM Member States have been taking up the opportunity offered under a German Metrology Institute (PTB)-driven technical cooperation project to tackle issues in one of the most vital sectors – agriculture.

With the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) leading the way, the first “National Dialogue on Agriculture” came off last October in The Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda in November, and Dominica in February 2015.

The dialogues take the form of a full-day workshop, bringing together the main stakeholders in the country’s agricultural sector, from both the public and private sector to discuss the challenges, suggestions for the development of the sector, and possible next steps for improvement.

The project came about when it was realised going through some of the work in quality infrastructure, that there was a disconnect between the National Standards Bodies and the providers and customers of services created within the network of QI. It was thought that bringing stakeholders together in particular sectors could help lessen the gap between the services provided and what was needed in the market place, particularly to help facilitate trade.

Given the importance and placement of agriculture as a major trading sector in most of the CARIFORUM countries, it was chosen as the focus for the dialogues with the national meetings concluding in an action plan of next steps. These action plans are then taken by the countries’ national standards bodies for implementation.

This year there were dialogues in Haiti at the end of May; Saint Lucia adn Belize in June, and St. Kitts & Nevis in July. At the end of the dialogues, which are facilitated by CROSQ with funding by the German Cooperation through PTB, there will be a regional meeting to develop a region strategy for the development of QI in agriculture.

National Dialogues Point The Way to Developing Agriculture

Beefing Up Quality Infrastructure Services for The BahamasOne of the most significant developments in May for the Bureau of Standards for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, was the signing of two Memoranda of Agreement for the Caribbean Reference Laboratory (CaRL) for Mass Metrology and the Caribbean Cooperation for Accreditation (CCA) schemes.

What makes these signings so momentous is the fact that it opens access to a new suite of services in metrology and accreditation to The Bahamas. By signing the CaRL MOU for Mass Metrology, the Bahamas bureau will now have access to technical assistance by the experts in mass metrology from the Bureau of Standards Jamaica; and assistance to calibrations for its national reference mass standards by the BSJ, among other services, which all results in reduced cost for maintaining traceability of mass measurements in The Bahamas.

Metrology is the science of measurements and traceability in metrology refers, as the word suggests, to the ability to establish an unbroken chain of measurements regarding a particular standard, with accurate documentation and including the aspects of uncertainty or parameters of error within said measurements.

The CaRL Scheme is aimed at providing economical and sustainable traceability in specific quantities by National Metrology Institutes (NMI) within the region. A CaRL is a metrology laboratory within a NMI or Designated Institute in the CARICOM region, which is recognised by CROSQ as a regional reference lab for a specific measurement quantity or magnitude within a defined scope.

The CCA MOU, on the other hand, provides better access to economical and readily available accreditation services through the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC) and the Trinidad and Tobago Laboratory Accreditation Service (TTLABS). These two labs are the ones with the highest levels of accreditation in the region.

Through the MOU, on the ground the CCA scheme will provide avenues for manufacturers to expand their markets and local access to internationally recognised conformity assessment services, among other benefits. On a whole, the scheme will facilitate the development of regional quality infrastructure, which along with accreditation and conformity assessment, includes standardisation and metrology services, and in so doing facilitate regional and international trading of products and services from the Bahamas.

Director of the St Kitts & Nevis Bureau of Standards, Mr. Hiram Williams keeps a close eye on this discussion by one of the group at that country’s National Dialogue on Agriculture.

From left: PTB’s Mr. Alexis Valquis; Director of BSJ, Ms. Yvonne Hall; CEO of CROSQ, Mr. Deryck Omar; and Director of the Bahamas Bureau, Dr. Renae Ferguson-Bufford, during the finalisation of the MOU in Barbados.



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Caribbean on the Map with Inter-Comparisons

A Series Of First For Guyana (Cont.)achieving accreditation. Further, accreditation services are more readily available and economical with the accreditation body being present right here in the region,” he said.

Although the Caribbean Development Bank, which served as one of the implementing partners of the CARTFund, alongside CROSQ, was not present at the ceremony, Bank representative Mrs. June Alleyne-Griffin offered congratulations to the GRDB on this major milestone, noting that it was the intention of the organisation to so assist Borrowing Member Countries in such a way as to aid in poverty reduction and inspire growth in areas such as the vital agriculture sector.

GNBS’ Executive Director, Ms. Evadnie Enniss in offering her organisation’s congratulations hailed this as an example of what the Bureau was capable of and the kind of assistance it could lend to companies or organisations seeking accreditation or such other services.

The Caribbean Aid for Trade and Regional Integration Trust Fund, or CARTFund Project, is financed by DFID with the objective to strengthen the capabilities of testing laboratories in CARIFORUM Member States to provide reliable, competent, internationally recognised and affordable testing services to exporters.

Jamaica is leading a historic charge for the region in the area of metrology.

The Bureau of Standards Jamaica is going to be the pilot laboratory for a 20-litre volume Inter-Laboratory Comparison, which involves Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Grenada, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Dominica, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Kenya.

An Inter-Laboratory Comparison (ILC) is a scientific exercise by laboratories which tests their equivalence of measurements, utilising the same artefact or sample. In the case of this current test, it will be a 20 litre stainless steel volumetric test measure donated by the Inter-American Metrology System (SIM). During the activity, a measurement standard is made available to all participating laboratories either by sending the standard to each participant or inviting the laboratories to send a metrologist to take measurements at a single location.

Once the measurement data is recorded the laboratories perform the necessary calculations to determine the measurement value of the artefact and the uncertainty of the measurements. The results for each country are then compared to the reference value provided by the pilot laboratory and then put through an internationally approved procedure that culminates with the publication of an academic paper.

The tests originally got underway in December 2014, but after some damage was done to the artefact in transit, it was determined that the exercise should be restarted, which is what metrologists are currently waiting to do in another month or so.

While the results and the publication of this paper will be significant developments for metrology in the region, the fact that one of the Caribbean’s National Metrology institutes has been accorded such a privilege is also worthy of note.

The BSJ is the pilot laboratory for this ILC, responsible for consolidating the measurement results from each participating laboratory, providing the reference value, performing the comparative calculations and preparing the academic paper. Since this is the BSJ’s first time piloting a Volume ILC, they are being coached by Scientific Coordinator of the Flow and Volume Division of the Mexican National

Metrology Centre (CENAM), Dr. Roberto Arias Romero, who is also Chairman of the SIM Flow and Volume Metrology Working Group (MWG 10).

The exercise will once again begin in Kingston, Jamaica, with the artefact returning there on the final leg of the intercomparison.

Technical Officer of Metrology with the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards & Quality (CROSQ), Mr. David Tomlinson noted that, “The point is to demonstrate the equivalence of our measurements, with each other and with the world; to show that a litre of whatever we are measuring is the same everywhere.

“So we are showing, not just the international metrology community, but the world, because everything is then published openly for anyone to see, it is not restricted, what we can do. Apart from that, it is also about learning. You know you participated in something that will be published and it pushes you to do a little better,” he said.

Mr. Tomlinson explained that the results are not shared prior to the publication of results to maintain the integrity and transparency of the process. Jamaica, however, would act as the collation point for all the information and would ultimately prepare the report for publication.

The staff of the Guyana Rice Development Board’s Central Laboratorycelebrating the occasion.

Staff at the Guyana National Bureau of Standards participating in the Intercomparison with the 20L Volumetric Test Measure.



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The CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) is well on its way to establishing a Caribbean Network of Conformity Assessment Bodies (CANCAB) Committee.

The Terms of Reference for the Committee was approved at the 26th Meeting of the CROSQ Council held in Barbados in May 2015, paving the way for the establishment of the CANCAB Committee, which encompasses all the Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) in the region.

The CANCAB Committee has the responsibility to develop the regional conformity assessment infrastructure as it relates to testing, inspection, certification and market surveillance. Representatives from both the public and private sector will serve on the CANCAB Committee.

Among the tasks to be executed by the CANCAB Committee are to:

• Facilitate the harmonisation of conformity assessmentprocedures among member countries.

• Establish sub-committees to focusonspecificconformityassessment procedures such as testing, inspection and certification.

• Promotebestpracticesinconformityassessment.

• FacilitatecapacitydevelopmentofCABsthroughavenuessuch as training, technical assistance, research and information dissemination.

• Encourage participation at regional and internationalconformity assessment fora.

• Review international standards governing conformityassessment activities.

Conformity Assessment is a process used to demonstrate that specified requirements relating to a product, process, system, person or body are fulfilled. Among other aspects, it demonstrates that products, processes, services, commodities & personnel meet required specifications; establishes & monitors appropriate requirements for protection of health, safety & the environment; underpins public infrastructure services in construction, energy, water and gas supplies, defence, transportation and communication systems and improves international trading opportunities by reducing Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and demonstrating compliance with specifications.

The 10th EDF-TBT Project, where CROSQ is one of the implementing agencies, is supporting seven CABs towards achieving accreditation. During the period April to June 2015, verification visits were made to the ten shortlisted CABs for potential support by the TBT Project. The visits were conducted by CROSQ’s Technical Officer – Accreditation and Conformity Assessment; Manager, National Certification Body of Jamaica (NCBJ); National Accreditation Focal Point (NAFP) – Guyana; and NAFP – Saint Lucia.

The visits were conducted to ascertain the level of implementation of the CABs’ quality management system and gauge their state of readiness for accreditation. An Evaluation Committee has been established to select the seven CABs to be supported. Through the support, the selected CABs will be able to benefit from a consultant, internship, equipment purchase and accreditation fees.

Capacity of Regional Conformity Assessment Bodies Strengthened

Next Phase of CALIDENA Gets StartedThe value chains of agricultural products within CARIFORUM are continuing to be strengthened through the CALIDENA methodology, led in this region by the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) with technical assistance through the German Metrology Institute (PTB)..

With the first phase of projects now in the implementation phase in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada focussing on jams and jellies, hot pepper sauce, poultry and nutmeg respectively, the project is about to launch four more value chain development exercises to boost agricultural production and export.

These new projects will include shrimp in Belize, honey in the Dominican Republic, seamoss in St. Lucia and yard long beans in Suriname.

The CALIDENA methodology under the CROSQ-implemented and PTB-funded project – Establishment of a Demand-Oriented and Regionally Harmonized Quality Infrastructure in the Caribbean (RQI 4), has been focussed on improving the quality infrastructure in agriculture-related value chains among the CROSQ Member States. The term “value chain” is based on the concept that the value of a product is created at various stages in production, and looks at all the steps from creation to market, to human resources, research and development, as well as the relationships behind the companies involved in developing the product.

Seven value chains – Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominican

Republic, St Lucia, St Kitts, Trinidad and Suriname – had applied to be part of the second round of CALIDENA, and a Train the Trainers workshop was held in the Dominican Republic in December 2014. Each member state was represented by a facilitator, a National Standards Bureau (NSB) representative and Value Chain representative and participants were trained in the CALIDENA methodology. That session was conducted by consultant, Ms. Agnes Cishek.

The four selected chains will now begin the necessary work, with a Preparation Workshop for the diagnostic and implementation phases, on April 22 and 23, and Diagnostic Workshops from May to July 2015. Following that stage the implementation of action plans will begin.

A workshop in the Dominican Republic to begin the process of CALIDENA there



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CROSQ Bids Farewell to One of Its OwnThe CARICOM Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) family recently bid farewell to one of its own as Finance Manager, Mr. Russell Franklyn announced his departure from the Secretariat.

Mr. Franklyn, who joined CROSQ in July 2008, was one of the Secretariat’s longest serving staff members. At the CROSQ Council meeting in Barbados in early May, his contribution to the growth and development of the organisation was recognised and praised by directors.

Director of the Antigua & Barbuda Bureau of Standards, Mrs. Dianne Rodrigues, noted that she had worked with Mr. Franklyn as Vice-Chair and Chair of CROSQ, as well as Chair of the Finance Committee, and had found him committed to his job.

Director of the Guyana Bureau of Standards, Ms. Evadnie Enniss joined in wishing him blessings, telling him she saw how he had grown and his knowledge and application to the job in both technical and finance areas over the past years.

Belize also gave its accolades, through CROSQ Vice-Chair and bureau Director, Mr. José Tréjo wishing him the best in his future endeavours. “I think you have done a tremendous job, an excellent job here,” said Mr. Trejo.

The Directors of the Bureau of Standards Jamaica, Ms. Yvonne Hall; the St. Kitts and Nevis Bureau, Mr. Hiram Williams; the Barbados National Standards Institute, Mrs. Anthea Ishmael and the Bahamas bureau, Dr. Renae Ferguson-Bufford, also added their praise for his years of service, his dedication as well as his expertise that had developed over the seven-year period to bring a level of competence in both technical and financial areas.

Coming from the disaster emergency planning environment of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency, now CDEMA, Mr. Franklyn joined CROSQ when the organisation was just developing and undertaking its first projects under the European Union and the Inter-American Development Bank.

“CROSQ was younger than CDEMA, but it had a lot of potential. After that environment, coming to CROSQ and having my first leadership meeting I remember thinking we have something that you can touch, people use standards every day, and I remember wondering why the organisation wasn’t better known. That was one of the reasons we decided for the 10th EDF to have a larger awareness component,” he said.

However, he noted, the organisation had evolved over time, and “it’s never been boring”.

“There was always something new to learn and it really was a hard decision to leave especially as we are embarking on so many new things. If there’s one thing I could leave CROSQ with it would be the message that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. I know all the Member States have national goals, but the regional good is always better, stronger than the individual goals,” he stated.

One of the challenges to that though, he acknowledged was consistency and the constantly changing nature of human resources at the various bureaus. Nevertheless, he said, the potential was still there to truly develop quality infrastructure in the region.

Mr. Russell Franklyn addressing the CROSQ Council for the final time.

Mr. Russell Franklyn and his wife, Lee-ann Mayers-Franklyn (right), with CROSQ Office Assistant, Ms. Heather Wilson at his office farewell.

Mr. Russell Franklyn being presented with a gift of appreciation from the CROSQ Council by Chairman, Mrs. Anthea Ishmael.



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Accreditation for medical laboratories in the region should be a hot topic, and for several reasons. The first is that proper healthcare is one of those areas the society cannot do without; the second is that the reliability of the results from medical laboratories are every bit as important as just having the lab itself.

To this end, the Laboratory Quality Management Systems Stepwise Improvement Project (LQMS-SIP) held its first major stakeholders meeting in Barbados in June, 2015. It brought together some of the region’s major players in public health care, as well as regional agencies like the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).

The LQMS-SIP is a comprehensive system designed to strengthen the services of medical and public health laboratories throughout CARICOM. The approach is a stepwise quality improvement process towards fulfillment of the ISO 15189. The ISO 15189: 2012 is the international standard for Medical Laboratories.

The project, which is facilitated by the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), is funded by the United States Government Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/PEPFAR.

Coming out of the stakeholders meeting, CROSQ will now be working more closely with CARPHA, with regional and national exchanges on a number of areas; there will be a further examination of the LQMS-SIP tier system; and the project will also examine the lessons learnt from a previous pilot study with a number of regional public health laboratories.

Accreditation against the global standard ISO 15189, allows medical laboratories to demonstrate, the technical competence of that laboratory to all users of its services. When patients use an accredited medical laboratory they can be assured that they will receive the level of high quality care.

LQMS-SIP therefore encourages, supports and recognizes the implementation of Quality Management Systems in medical laboratories as they seek to provide accurate, timely and reliable results for patient care and public health purposes in a safe environment. It will assist laboratories in the process of quality improvement, support them through assessments, provide technical assistance, monitor and reward progress towards meeting internationally accepted standards.

Following a successful mission to the Dominican Republic in March, the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality, and that country are now exploring the alignment of several standards to bring them in line with the rest of CARICOM.

At part of the continuing efforts to tackle technical barriers to trade under the 10th European Development Fund programme, the agency for standards in the DR, INDOCAL, brought together a large number of stakeholders in the private sector this year to discuss trade-related standards that have already been developed for the Caribbean by CROSQ and to find ways to bring equivalence to those of relevance to the D.R.

The importance of the visit was espoused by both Chairman of CROSQ, Mrs. Anthea Ishmael, as well as President of INDOCAL, Mr. Miguel Guerrero, who addressed the opening of the two-day discussions.

Mrs. Ishmael noted: “My presence here today, as the Chairperson of CROSQ, is to demonstrate CROSQ’s commitment to, and support for, this activity. INDOCAL has also demonstrated its commitment by organizing and hosting this dialogue with you the stakeholders, who will be the principal beneficiaries of the outcomes. Your support is therefore critical to the realization of these objectives, and the many benefits to be derived.”

Mr. Guerrero added his views, stating: “The major result of this important activity [is to] achieve the greatest amount of standards harmonisation to the greatest possible extent; [that] standardising institutions participate fully and adequately, within the limits of

its resources, in the preparation by international institutions with relevant standardisation activities . . .

“Regional institutions involved [must] also make every effort to achieve a national consensus on the standards they develop. Likewise, the regional standardising institution should make every effort to avoid duplication or rework of international institutions with relevant standardisation activities,” he said.

By the end of the consultation, standards identified for attention were: Mangoes; Bananas; Labelling of Goods - General Principles; Labelling of Goods – Pre-packaged Goods; Specification for Toilet Tissue; Specification for Cement and Specification for Rum.

Medical Laboratories Moving Towards Accreditation

Equivalency Efforts On With The Dominican Republic

Participants and officials at a Stakeholders Meeting in the Dominican Republic to discuss harmonisation efforts.

Project Coordinator with the LQMS-SIP Project, Dr. Claire Durant (standing centre) leading discussion at the Stakeholders Meeting in Barbados.



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The Bureau of Standards for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas

The Acting Director, Dr. Renae Ferguson-Bufford, was confirmed as the Director of the Bureau of Standards for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Dr. Bufford was also featured as one of the CEO Women Leaders in International Women’s Day for ISO.

The Bureau obtained a facility to serve as its headquarters and approval for the hiring of two Standards officers; one Standards Assistant; two Metrology Officers; two technicians and administrative staff. It is hoped to be up and fully functioning by the summer. The Standards Council for the bureau was also appointed.

The Bureau has been asked to join Working Group 3 on the National Quality Infrastructure for the Organisation of American States.

Bureau Haitien de Normalisation

The Bureau Haïtien de Normalisation held a National Dialogue on Agriculture in June 2015 involving participation of the public and private sector to devise an action plan on the quality infrastructure services needed for the sector.

Bureau of Standards Jamaica

The BSJ is embarking on a more than US$30M, five-year Strategic Public Sector Transformation Project, with financing by the Government of Jamaica, the World Bank and the BSJ. The objective is to strengthen public resource management and support selected public sector institutions in facilitating a more enabling environment for private sector growth.

Projected outcomes include National Quality Infrastructure services positively impacting Jamaican businesses; independent regulatory services protecting customers; NQI entities with adequate capabilities; a Jamaican economy that is standards and quality-driven and national compliance with the WTO’s TBT/SPS Agreement.

NSB Talk

St. Lucia Bureau of Standards

The St. Lucia Bureau of Standards hosted a National Dialogue on Agriculture which saw wide participation from farmers and agriculture professionals across the island.

The Bureau also initiated comments on several draft standards including Cosmetics – Good Manufacturing Practices; ISO 13009: 2015 – Requirements for Beach Operation; and Specifications for Labelling of Tobacco Products.

Guyana National Bureau of Standards

The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) collaborated with the Consumer Affairs Division of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, the Food and Drug Analyst Department, the Ministry of Health and the Carnegie School of Home Economics to conduct a week of activities in commemoration of World Consumer Rights Day, 2015 under the theme “Helping Consumers choose health diets”.

The activities, which included radio and television programmes, a half day seminar, and a cook-out competition for secondary schools students, focused on educating food manufacturers and consumers on the importance of producing and consuming the right kinds of foods to encourage healthy eating habits by Guyanese. Belize Bureau of Standards

The 21-year-old Belize Bureau of Standards has celebrated the ground breaking on what will be a state of the art new metrology laboratory project at the Ministry of Works Compound in Belmopan.

As the services provided by the Bureau were previously limited to verification of measuring and weighing devices used in commerce and trade, it has sought to expand this offering to allow for the development of Industrial and Scientific Metrology across various magnitudes.

The Bureau reported steady process on the construction of the facility, which is being constructed on 2.5 acres of land and will include administrative offices.

In January the Bureau and the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture and the Costa Rica Ministry of Economics, Industry and Commerce hosted a national Codex Sensitization Workshop.

The BBS was also participated in the Ministry of Health’s Food Safety Open Day, the National Agriculture and Trade Show and the Public Service Information Day. It held events in celebration of World Metrology Day on May 20.



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Suriname Standards Bureau

On May 7, 2015, the Suriname Standards Bureau appointed its new Executive Director, Mrs. Ingrid de Bel-Simson. Mrs. De Bel-Simson, age 38, is a former corporate lawyer and arbitrator at the Surinamese Arbitration Institute, with extensive experience in business- and corporate law, and an affinity with risk management and compliance. She is the President and CEO of a leading legal and business consulting firm with offices in Suriname and Curacao.

The SSB was selected as one of the newest additions to the CALIDENA Value Chain project in the area of yard long beans. The CALIDENA project attempts to strengthen the value chains of production lines towards the facilitation of removing technical barriers to trade.

The SSB saw the departure of Information and Communication Officer and CROSQ-MIKE Committee representative, Mr. Murwin Pawirodinomo in early March 2015. He was replaced in that capacity by Mr. Zachery Kromowidjojo.

The Bureau had an ISO 9001:2008 initial audit at the end of March, for which it was awaiting results.

Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards

In early June, the TTBS announced that it had signed a MOU with the CSA Group, a leading global provider of standards development, testing and certification services, as well as the Premier Quality Services Limited, a fully-owned subsidiary of the TTBS which provides business solutions in quality, professional and skills development through training.

The MOU, the CSA said, would allow for the sharing of expertise and knowledge, as well as build awareness and understanding in the work of standards. Cooperation would be in the areas of standards, conformity assessment and training, as well as consultancy towards trade and economic development.

INDOCAL

The Dominican Republic conducted a CALIDENA Workshop for its Honey Value Chain, which involved a technical session as well as a trip to the producers of honey, in the Montecristy-Dajabón zone.

President of COPANT, Mr. Joe Bhati (left) and Chairman of CROSQ, Mrs. Anthea Ishmael share a light moment after the signing of the MOU between the two bodies.

Head of Technical Cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean with PTB, Dr. Alexis Valquis having a chat over drinks with Mr. Russell Franklyn at the cocktail reception of the CROSQ Council.

CROSQ Legal Officer, Ms. Sanya Alleyne (centre) chats with Attache for Social and Rural Development Section of the EU, Mr. Eddy Delaunay Belleville (left) and Programme Manager of the Economics Section of the EU, Ms. Chiara Francini (right).

PTB consultant Dr. Ulrich Harmes-Liedtke walking the CROSQ staff through the CALIDENA methodology during a special workshop.

CROSQAT WORK



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CROSQ and Haiti Bureau officials with the administrators at the Public Health Laboratory in Haiti.

CROSQ Chairman, Mrs. Anthea Ishmael and Technical Officer, Standards, Mr. Fulgence St. Prix, being interviewed by a journalist in Barbados during a standards workshop.

RQI4 Project Coordinator, Ms. Janice Hilaire (left) and CROSQ CEO, Mr. Deryck Omar being interviewed by the media at the National Dialogue on Agriculture in Haiti.

CROSQ Officers discussing technical issues with PTB and the EU during a Project Implementation Unit meeting.

CROSQ Office and Operations Assistant, Ms. Heather Wilson whipping the CROSQ Library into shape.

CROSQ Staff at a Technical Implementation Group – Standards meeting in Jamaica.

CROSQAT WORK



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CROSQ Mission StatementTo facilitate trade and competitiveness of CARICOM products and services for sustainable development through implementation of RQI.

For further information, please contact:CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality2nd Floor Baobab Towers,Warrens, St. Michael, Barbados.Tel: 246.622.7670Fax: 246.622.7678Email: [email protected]: www.crosq.org

www.facebook.com/crosq.caricom

@crosqcaricom

This publication is produced with financial assistance of the European Union. This is the sole responsibility of CROSQ, with support from its partners, PTB and INDOCAL, and can under no circumstance be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.

Antigua and Barbuda Bureau of Standards

Old Parham RdP.O. Box 1550St. John’sAntigua & BarbudaT: 268-562-4011 / F: 268-562-0094Website: www.abbs.gov.ag

Bahamas Bureau of Standards

Ministry of Financial ServicesManx Corporate Centre, 3rd Floor, East WingWest Bay StreetP.O. Box N-4843Nassau NPThe BahamasT: 242-328-5071-6 / F: 242-328-8090

Barbados National Standards Institution

Culloden RoadSt. MichaelBarbadosT: 246-426-3870 / F: 246-436-1495Website: www.bnsi.bb

Belize Bureau of Standards

Ministry of Trade, Investment Promotion, Private Sector Development and Consumer ProtectionThird Floor, Diamonds BuildingConstitution DriveP.O. Box 430Belmopan Belize C.AT: 501-822-0446/47 / F: 501-822-2571Website: www.bbs.gov.bz

Dominica Bureau of Standards

P.O. Box 10159 Great Marlborough StreetRoseauDominicaT: 767-448-1685/440-0052 / F: 767-449-9217Website: www.dominicastandards.org

Grenada Bureau of Standards

P.O. Box 2036Queen’s ParkSt. George’sGrenadaT: 473-440-5886/6783 / F: 473-440-5554

Guyana National Bureau of Standards

Flat 15 Exhibition Complex SophiaGeorgetownGuyanaT: 592-219-0062/0064/0066 / F: 592-219-0070Website: www.gnbsgy.org

Bureau Haïtien de Normalisation

Ministère du Commerce et de l’IndustriePort-au-PrinceHaitiT: 509-2228-9491/2230-5804/4890-0147 / F: 509-223-8402/223-5950

Bureau of Standards Jamaica

6 Winchester Road, Kingston 10JamaicaT: 876-926-3140-5 / F: 876-929-4736

Minister/Trade Economist

Ministry of Agriculture, Trade. Land, Housing and the EnvironmentP.O. Box 272BradesMontserrat MSR 1110T: 664-492-1887

St. Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards

Ministry of Industry, Commerce andConsumer AffairsBasseterreSt. Kitts & NevisT: 869-465-5279 / F: 869-465-3852

Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards

Bisee Industrial EstateCP 5412CastriesSt. LuciaT: 758-453-0049 / F: 758-452-3561Website: www.slbs.org.lc

St. Vincent and The Grenadines Bureau of Standards

Campden Park Industrial EstateP.O. Box 1506Kingstown VC 0100St. Vincent & the GrenadinesWebsite: www.svgbs.gov.vc

Suriname Standards Bureau

Leysweg No. 10, UitvlugtParamariboSurinameT: 597-499928/9 / F: 597-499926Website: www.ssb.sr

Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards

1-2 Century DriveTrincity Industrial EstateMacoya, TunapunaTrinidad & TobagoT: 868-662-8827 / F: 868-663-4335

Instituto Dominicano Para La Calidad(INDOCAL)

c/ Oloff Palmer esq. Nuñez de Cáceres, San Gerónimo, Santo Domingo, R.D.T: 809-686-2210 Ext. 310 Email: [email protected]

CARIFORUM

Standards Bodies Across The Region

the crosq standards quarterly newsletter - july 2015

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