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The November meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development has proved a fruitful and historic one for CROSQ.

It was fruitful because the region has added two new standards to its developing regime, and historic because of the nature of the two standards passed – Specifications for Cement, and a Code of Practice for Organic Production and Processors, as well as the modality behind one of them.

The new cement standard, while much sought after in the construction community, should be celebrated as the first time that CROSQ has created a standard, referencing international standards to which the Member States must adhere.

The standards development process calls for consensus, and getting this standard to approval stage was challenging because of the different standards used in production by Member States.

To overcome the challenge, the technical teams drafting the standards adopted a new modality to reference the international standards to be used, so that cement conforming to those international standards would automatically be deemed as conforming to the regional standard. The regional cement standard would have been in development since 2007, going through a number of revisions over the years.

The second standard approved, the Code of Practice for Organic Production and Processors, began its long journey in 2009 as a proposed Code for Practice for Organic Foods, and like that for cement, went through numerous revisions. It was recognised in the process that there was no standard for a Code of Practice for Organic Foods, based on the CODEX Alimentarius. So comments were solicited, and the proposed code revised to its current focus to include other aspects of organic production beyond just food.

Input was also solicited from an international organic organisation to ensure that it would be acceptable at that level as well. This new code of practice can now be used by the farming communities in Member States as a tool for certification.

CROSQ is hoping that the next step will be to develop a further relationship with a certification body to get products certified using the standard. Jamaica, it was noted, had expressed interest in establishing a certification, which could lead to the development of a regional certification scheme.

One of the issues the CROSQ Secretariat has faced in the past is the length of time it sometimes take for the adoption of an approved regional standard as a national one, and the COTED has decided to engage in a special discussion on this. The Secretariat has been therefore asked to prepare a paper for presentation at the 40th COTED in April 2015.

Commenting on this development, the Technical Officer – Standards with CROSQ, Mr. Fulgence St.Prix stated: “This is something the Technical Management Committee of CROSQ has wanted for a very long time – to cause that discussion to happen, because we are also looking at introducing that discussion of the whole modality for adoption of a regional standard in the sense that as it stands presently, all Member States have to agree to that standard, but in the standards world, best practice dictates that not everyone has to agree to the standard and vote positively for it. Once you have 75 per cent agreed that should be enough to adopt that standard whether it is national, regional or international. So it makes no sense for us to continue to stick to a regime where you are looking for 100 per cent agreement on the standard.

“The standard is consensus based and consensus does not mean unanimity. It means that everyone has accepted, there is no sustained disagreement on the decision that has been taken and so using that principle of consensus we don’t need 100 per cent voting positively for a standard to be declared a regional standard. So all of those issues will be highlighted in the paper we are preparing for the 40th COTED, and hopefully we will get a way forward in regional standards adoption.”

Historic Developments at COTED

Vo l u m e 7 . I s s u e 1 . D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4

INSIDE THIS ISSUE!Meet the new head of CROSQ ............................ page 3Standards in demand ....................................... page 4Social media and QI .......................................... page 4COTED has approved two new standards ............ page 5The NSBs tell you what’s up ............................... page 6

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“A new SI?”

“What? Wasn’t it hard enough for us to learn what the SI [international systems] units are in the first place and convert from the old English system and now you are saying that there will be a new SI?” Understandably, hearing about a redefinition of the way in which we express measurements and the thought of having to learn something again would be an unwelcomed activity for most, but the reality is this adjustment will have a far greater impact on research and the development of new technology than it will on the everyday things that we measure in the Caribbean like yams, fuel and bread.

This redefinition is one of the recent developments coming out of the recent International Metrology System meetings held in Colombia. This particular change arose out of the fact that of the seven base units of the SI, only the kilogram is still defined by a physical object known as the international prototype of the kilogram (IPK) which is kept at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in Paris, France. The other six units are defined by naturally occurring phenomena which can be reproduced in any part of the world.

The problem with the kilogram is that experiments have shown that the weights of the official copies of the international prototype that are held by different countries are drifting apart and hence what the world considers that the 1 kilogram is not as stable as measurement experts (metrologists) would like.

What is this instability you may ask? Well, the weights have been shown to have changed by 50 micrograms (µg) in a little over 100 years. That is 0.00005 grams or about 60 times less than the weight of an average ant, over the course of over 100 years. This change along with the goal to be able to realise the weight of 1 kilogram at any time, by anyone, at any place in the world, is the major driving force behind redefining the SI.

Notwithstanding the changes that are taking place, really the day-to-day measurements we use will not be significantly impacted and there is no need to be in fear.

Revision of the International Systems of Units (SI) – and Why

Regional Recognition For Accreditation BodiesThere is move afoot to ensure the regional recognition of national accreditation bodies (NABs) within CARICOM, and even further afield.

The CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), has devised a Caribbean Cooperation in Accreditation (CCA) Scheme, which is intended to support the regional quality infrastructure through recognition of the NABs in the region. NABs are the agencies that confirm the procedures of the CABs that perform testing, inspection and certification services to facilitate trade, are up to scratch. In the region, the endorsed NABs are the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC) and the Trinidad and Tobago Laboratory Accreditation Service (TTLABS).

The CCA scheme is attempting to ensure that recognition of the services provided are international in scope and acceptance. The intention of the scheme is to increase the demand for accreditation in the region; to improve the financial sustainability for conformity assessment bodies (e.g. laboratories), and accreditation bodies as the market for their services becomes the CARICOM region and beyond; permit the introduction of new and expanded services to better meet the needs of the region through cooperation and collaboration amongst the accreditation bodies.

It will also provide internationally qualified and recognised national laboratories and other conformity assessment bodies that will be able to meet the national and regional needs of the Caribbean communities.

Although the scheme will initially focus on accreditation of testing, calibration and medical laboratories, it will also cover accreditation of inspection and certification bodies, and since it is based on the use of international standards, will serve as a mechanism to reduce technical barriers to trade.

The CCA Scheme also recognizes the National Accreditation Focal Points (NAFPs), some of which are located within NSBs, which are endorsed by CROSQ to assist with capacity building in their respective countries for CABs seeking accreditation. NAFPs provide a national administrative link between potential clients (labs inspection bodies and users of conformity assessment services) and the NABs; to provide accreditation support services and act as a channel of information on accreditation and related matters.

The NABs and CABs that are recognized under the scheme will be identified by a CROSQ/CCA symbol or mark. The end game is for member states to gain international recognition for regional products and services, increased regional and international trade, internationally recognised competencies in accreditation and conformity assessment service.

Picture 1 showing the international prototype of the kilogram (IPK)

Picture 2 showing the seven base units of the SI

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New Strategic Focus for CROSQ

CROSQ’s New CEOThe CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality has welcomed a new Chief Executive Officer. He is Mr. Deryck Omar, who assumed duties from November 24, 2014.

Mr. Omar was formerly the Chief Executive Officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards – 2007-2013, after which he re-entered private enterprise as a management consultant in the fields of strategy, corporate renewal, performance management and employee engagement.

No doubt these skills honed at Bureau and further practiced in a business environment will be brought to bear upon CROSQ’s regional outreach programmes and organizational development initiatives.

Previous to his experiences at the Bureau, and by extension a CROSQ Council member, he worked in the engineering (public sector), financial, media and academic industries (private sectors) assuming increasing technical, managerial and leadership responsibilities.

His continuing education are founded on a degree in engineering and post graduate credentials in business administration, finance and tertiary level teaching and learning modalities.

At the recent orientation staff meeting, Mr. Omar expressed his commitment to the promotion of Council’s agenda and the Secretariat’s Strategic Plan, especially as it relates to stakeholder relevance; national, regional and international visibility; financial sustainability; and organizational and human capital evolution.

The CROSQ Board as well as Mr. Omar simultaneously thanked interim Officer-in-Charge and incumbent Manager, Finance and Administration Mr Russell Franklin for the role he has played in leading the organisation in past months in the absence of a CEO.

With a new Strategic Plan being rolled out within the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), the organisation is pressing ahead to meet the commitments of its new mission and vision.

The 2015 – 2019 Strategic Plan was approved at the recent CROSQ Council meeting of Directors held in The Bahamas in late October, with a vision to making the organisation “The leader for the development and promotion of the Regional Quality Infrastructure” (RQI), on a mission “to facilitate trade and competitiveness of CARICOM products and services for sustainable development through implementation of RQI”.

For the next five years, CROSQ will: be stakeholder driven; promote a culture of change to incorporating new approaches to enhance the provision of quality services to our stakeholders; maintain existing partnerships and create new alliances with regional and international strategic partners to increase impact; foster a performance based culture and implement systems that measure ‘value for money’ by monitoring the use of resources and the attainment of results; and ensure operational efficiency, transparency and financial accountability at all levels.

The advancement of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy and external trade, as well as a focus on the primary and secondary stakeholders towards creating a quality culture that will be promoted to further drive the demand for QI services, will be among primary objectives.

CROSQ will focus its actions to ensure that RQI programmes respond to private/public sector priorities; consumers value the quality of goods and services; QI responds to Member States’ needs; the region recognises CROSQ’s relevance to regional integration and as well as the visibility of the CROSQ System and branding of the NSBs as trade facilitators.

The organisation will be more proactive to securing new resources needed to sustain the RQI programmes, and strategic partnerships will be maintained with the regional and international partners to better leverage available regional resources.

The Plan promises better management and fair allocation of these resources for the benefit of stakeholders, with further promises to achieve financial sustainability, to operate with transparency and equity in the distribution of resources and to secure resources for the development of RQI.

Within the five years, the CROSQ Secretariat itself is to be transformed with an “improved governance structure to better meet the emerging needs of the community”. In this vein, it will also strive to attain international recognition for national agencies crucial for the facilitation of intra and extra regional trade. Capacity building to enhance human and technical resources will be a key driver for CROSQ to be effective in the delivery of QI services. Greater use of ICT will also be embraced to improve efficiency and increase visibility of CROSQ as a beacon for QI.

All these measures, the Plan explains, are geared towards the achievement of the overall mission.

New CROSQ CEO: Deryck Omar

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It’s hard to go online today without being involved in some form of social media – whether it is Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, Tumblr, Pinterest . . . and the list grows almost daily. And in an age where everything is digital, quality infrastructure and all its many facets and mechanisms have to “get on board”.

Several National Standards Bureaus have been launching their own Facebook, Twitter or even Youtube accounts, and even more are being advised that they should. We are in an age of technology, where increasingly stakeholders are demanding information and services, and are “shopping online” for that information.

A recently commissioned study on user demand and knowledge of QI in the CARIFORUM member states showed that indeed increasingly stakeholders were requesting more and more services from NSBs, and they were also noting that there was not enough information out there about where they can access the services or even what services were available through those national bodies.

The CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) Secretariat has taken lead in the charge towards boosting awareness of quality infrastructure online. In numerous workshops over past months, stakeholders have pointed out time and again that they need more information filtering down about services, as well as general information about what QI is and all the ways such mechanisms can assist businesses to become more competitive.

What is even more apparent is that a lot of people actually look to

social media for basic information. A recent workshop in Barbados on conformity assessment saw a number of stakeholders, both advanced and new to the area, expressing surprise that they used some element of conformity assessment daily, even while shopping for groceries. It was that kind of breakdown they identified as necessary to get the public to better understand what QI was. Additionally, these same stakeholders noted that social media could be used to spread word about QI.

The benefits of social media for NSBs, particularly the use of Facebook, Twitter and Youtube, cannot be under estimated. In awareness efforts, these media can take the message of QI to a wider audience than just a country’s citizens, as the message is not confined to the country’s borders. In so doing, NSBs and the CROSQ Secretariat can share information with each other and help to further utilize each other’s resources to spread messages for wider impact.

Social media also presents an even greater opportunity to directly interface with stakeholders that might otherwise be difficult to pin down, even in a formal meeting. Among NSBs already on social media include the St. Lucia Bureau of Standards and the Trinidad & Tobago Bureau of Standards, which are both on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube; the Suriname Standards Bureau recently launched a Youtube page and is on Facebook; and the Dominica Bureau of Standards, the Grenada Bureau of Standards, The Bureau of Standards Jamaica, and the St Kitts & Nevis Bureau of Standards are all on Facebook.

QI and Social Media: The Wave of the Future

Demand for Standards GrowingA study, commissioned by the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), is showing a growing demand for standards and quality infrastructure (QI) across the region.

The study, conducted in the 16 CARIFORUM states on the use and demand for QI services, found that 60 per cent of persons who participated already had a good to very high knowledge of QI.

The survey sample of almost 300 interviews of stakeholders across the 16 countries, covered the spectrum of those who had a high understanding of QI, to those who had little experience with such services. An overwhelming 60 per cent saw QI as important or very important, particularly in relation to determining the quality of products, product specifications and standards in the market.

Standards and calibration of measurement instruments were among the services most sought after from National Standards Bureaus (NSBs), followed closely by certification of products, services or systems, testing and accreditation information and services.

Across countries, demand for all aspects of quality infrastructure has been growing, the study found. It noted that currently the majority – more than 80 per cent – of the organizations interviewed were using standards in some form in their operations. Those services ranged from quality management systems and product/service standards, while less than 10 per cent reported little to no usage of these or health and safety management, environmental management or food and safety management standards.

There was the expectation that over the next two years this demand would continue to grow to push quality management demand up another 28 per cent and health and safety management up 25 per cent.

Metrology was another areas showing current and future demand. Volume, temperature and mass were most used, while calibration of

instruments was the service most requested by countries, industries or sectors. Among some of the priorities going forward would be temperature measurement calibration, volume measurement calibration, weights, and mass measurement calibration.

In the area of testing, some 64 per cent of organisations had used a laboratory for testing in the past, and water and materials testing were indicated as services that would be needed in the future.

Likewise, in inspection, more than 50 per cent of organisations had been inspected in the last two years by mostly accredited inspection agencies. Stakeholders said they expected that more inspection services, particularly in the areas of product inspection and plant/office inspection would be needed in the near future.

Finally, in the area of certification, a smaller per cent (26), had received certification for products/services in the past year and the same percentage reported being certified to a management system.

Training as well as certification services by accredited certification bodies were among the areas expected to create future demand in the QI area of accreditation. Training had already been accessed by more than 50 per cent of organisations questioned, while almost 30 per cent had accessed proficiency testing. One of the findings here was here that there was need for documentation, awareness and better understanding of the accreditation process.

The final report on the findings of the survey will inform awareness and education activities over the next two years, as well as to inform NSB programmes’ focus for the future.

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RQI Policy on Track

The 10th EDF Reducing Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT) Project At A GlanceThe 10th European Development Fund Reducing Technical Barriers to Trade Project is a component of the 10th European Development Fund Caribbean Regional Indicative Programme Economic Partnership Agreement Portfolio.

The total funding was 7.8 million Euro, which was made available through a financial agreement between the European Union and CARIFORUM.

The main objective of the TBT Project is to improve Caribbean competitiveness through the increased use of services of internationally recognised regional quality infrastructure institutions in the CARIFORUM states. It is anticipated that the project results will contribute to increased regional exports, access to new markets and greater consumer confidence in the quality of Caribbean products and services.

Beneficiary countries include – Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

Among the objectives of the TBT Project are to:• DevelopaRegionalQualityInfrastructurePolicyandLegislative Framework;• Providenewmetrologyequipmenttothebureauofstandards in each country;• Harmonisenationalandregionalstandardsdevelopment processes

• Strengthenthecapacityoftechnicalregulationdevelopmentat the national level in accordance with WTO-TBT requirements• Operationaliseregionalschemesforaccreditation;• Buildcapacityforinspection,testingandcertificationbodies towards international accreditation; • Developandoperationalisearegionalschemeforproduct certification;

Provide training to staff of the bureau of standards in each country; • BuildawarenessonQualityInfrastructureamongkeynational stakeholders

It is hoped at the end of the process there will be greater adoption and increased use of regional standards; greater accuracy in testing and measurement systems; internationally recognised calibration services, traceable to the International System of Units; internationally recognised and economical accreditation services in the region; mutual recognition and equivalency of regulations and conformity assessment procedures among countries; and just as importantly, an improved Caribbean Quality Culture.

The project is being implemented by the National Metrology Institute of Germany, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards & Quality (CROSQ), and the Dominican Republic Institute for Quality - Instituto Dominicano para la Calidad (INDOCAL).

The Regional Quality Infrastructure (RQI) Policy is on track for approval next year.

It has been a long and engaged process to get it to the stage it is now – the final circulation of the policy for acceptance by Member States. The process is more than a year old, and a series of national consultations with the 16 CARIFORUM Member States began on July 3 in Guyana and ended on October 10 in Belize.

The development of the RQI Policy came out of the 10th European Development Fund Programme aimed at removing technical barriers to trade in the region, thereby increasing trade and international competitiveness of products and services within the CARIFORUM states.

Led by the officers of CROSQ, the policy travelled to all Member States, with discussions among stakeholders in both the public and private sector to gather feedback and suggestions, which were then disposed. It outlined which suggestions were accepted or not, and the reasons. This step, the team believed, was critical to maintaining the objectivity and transparency of the process ahead of regional acceptance.

The policy itself is a guide for the countries of the region to setting up their own quality infrastructure, which refers to all those processes – ranging from standards, to metrology, conformity assessment, testing, and accreditation, which determines the quality of goods, services or processes in a country, and more importantly their readiness for entry to other markets. It is also intended to be a model policy for regulators who need to draft legislation to officially establish these processes in the respective countries.

The plan now is for the RQI Policy, once it has been accepted by individual Member States, to then be officially presented for endorsement to the CROSQ Council at its April 2015 meeting, and

from there to the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) at its 40th meeting also next year for acceptance and implementation by members.

The policy will set the framework for the legislation which is necessary to support the development of national quality infrastructure, and must be driven by the relevant national stakeholders.

CROSQ meanwhile will continue to advocate for implementation of national legislation that will establish the needed quality infrastructure in Member States in such a way as to make them more competitive. In short, if implemented, such legislation could drive the much-needed economic development within states.

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CROSQ is made up of the National Standards Bureaus (NSBs) of 15 member states of CARICOM, and also works closely with the Dominican Republic. Here is a sneak peak at some of the recent developments in CARIFORUM.

Antigua & Barbuda• Hascompletedthenationalstandardforthelabelingof pharmaceuticals and submitted it for consideration as regional standard.

• ParticipatedintheCALIDENAprogrammeforitsJamsand Jellies Value Chain, as well as in the regional workshop on Reducing the Carbon Footprint in the Caribbean through the promotion of Energy Efficiency and the use of Renewable Technologies – Fiscal and Regulatory Barriers that block their implementation.

The Bahamas• Ishopingtosoonaddalegalofficertostafftolookatthe harmonisation of legislation relating to the Weights and Measures Act and regulatory arms of the Consumers Act. The review is hoped to be completed by the end of January 2015.

• Isseekingaconsultanttoassistwithinstitutional strengthening for EPA implementation towards strengthening of the country’s national quality infrastructure.

• IsmakingamovetowardsestablishingaCentreof Excellence for Financial Services.

Barbados• Hascompleteditsmodernisationprojectandisnow hoping the local government can approve funding for the construction of its new headquarters.

Belize• Isaboutthestartconstructionontwonewlaboratoriesand has acquired two trucks to increase its mobility to deliver metrology services.

• Isworkingwiththetourismboardandofficialsinculture to develop a standard for recreational scuba diving; it is also working with the culture officials to develop a standard for health and safety of archeology sites.

Dominica• Theconsultingfirm,DelphiConsultantsLtd.ofTrinidad and Tobago, was contracted to conduct the Gap Analysis and Initial Sensitisation as the bureau makes a second attempt at revamping its earlier implemented Quality Management System. As the first process was not a success, the Bureau initiated an internal review of the previously prepared QMS Manual, with the underlying objective to update and upgrade the QMS to comply with the ISO 9001:2008 version.

• Conductedtrainingsessionwithmanagementandstaff on importance of quality and their responsibility for the success of the QMS. The sessions were designed to expose and train staff, depending on their functions, to ensure that they are fully integrated with the requirements of the QMS. In addition, Management was made aware of the QMS, to enable the Management Team to understand the benefits of a QMS, and their responsibility towards its implementation, maintenance and success.

Dominican Republic• IsworkingtosignanewagreementwithCROSQto continue the cooperation that began with INDOCAL, with the country’s newly created umbrella body SIDOCAL.

Grenada• Isworkingontheaccreditationofitslaboratory,andis hoping to achieve accreditation in two new areas moisture content and pH.

Guyana• TheGNBSrecertifiedbothoftheJewelleryEstablishments – Steve’s Jewellery and King’s Jewellery World – that are under its Product Certification Scheme after they continued to demonstrate compliance to the requirements of the scheme.

• DuringtheperiodofSeptember17-19,2014,atraining session with eight representatives from six medical laboratories, was conducted by Ms. Candelle Walcott- Bostwick, Head Conformity Assessment, on the ISO 15189 standard. Two (2) GNBS Officers were also trained to provide support to the laboratories. The objectives of the training were to provide participants with an understanding of the requirements of the ISO 15189: 2012 standard, Medical laboratories- Requirements for Quality and Competence, and to assist these laboratories in the updating of their Quality Management System for the purpose of continual improvement and /or accreditation.

Haiti• LaunchedaprogrammeinSeptembertosupportten(10) enterprises in the implementation of quality management systems.

• Alsointheprocessofadoptinganumberofregional standards in the agriculture and food related sectors, as well as the regional standard and code of practice for packaged water, and the regional standard for cassava bread.

Jamaica• Isseekingaccreditationfor13microbiologyrelatedtests, which should be completed in December.

• IscontinuingworkinconjunctionwiththeUniversityof the West Indies to develop a bamboo research project.

NSB Talk

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Meanwhile, work continues to implement the Bamboo Products Industry Project, with long-terms aims of opening a factory to product high quality bamboo products and a bamboo themed park and trail as a tourist attraction.

• Isworkingtosecuretheservicesofasoftwaredeveloper to pursue the procurement of testing equipment for the expansion of the energy efficiency testing and labeling facility project. Three existing standards are being reviewed with completion dates between December 2014 and March 2015.

Montserrat• FormerCROSQCouncilMember,Mr.ClaudeHoganisnow the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Trade, Lands, Housing & Environment. • TheMinistryofTradeplanstore-establishitscalibration/ conformity assessment programme in December or early January, 2015. The first line of action will be the calibration of the fuel dispensers at the local gas stations.

St. Kitts & Nevis• Hasreceivedapprovalandispresentlyextendingits physical structure, and was provided with two additional labs to cater for energy testing and efficiency.

• HassignedaMOUwithASTMInternationalwhichwould give access to all of that body’s standards.

• Ispresentlyworkingwithataskforcetolookatstandards for the gaming industry. While legislation exists for licensing of the industry, it does not for monitoring and fairness.

St. Lucia• Hasrecognisedanincreaseindemandforstandardsfrom the services sector; as well as increased certification of tourism, agro-processing and farm-related areas, and beauty and wellness.

• BytheendofNovember,threebeautyandwellnessspas should be certified for compliance.

• Hasdesignedaqualitylogowhichwillbeissuedfora period of one year to entities that are compliant in product or processes. It has seen the issuance of the logo to a bakery, an agro-processor of wines and an agro-processor of jams and jellies.

St. Vincent & the Grenadines• Hasdraftedandinvitedcommentsonstandardsina number of food processing areas including a Code of Hygienic Practice for Pre-Cooked and Cooked Foods in Mass Catering; Code of Hygienic Practice for the Preparation and Sale of Street Foods; as well as the CARICOM Regional Code of Practice for Organic Production and Processing, and Specification for Cement.

• NineteeninspectorsoftheLegalMetrologyandStandards Compliance Department were exposed to Legal Metrology training to improve their competency in range of verification activities falling under their purview. These activities include the verification of meter rules, masses, scales, net content, tanker wagons, storage tanks, measures, fuel dispensers, speed guns and breath analyzers.

Suriname• RecentlylaunchedanofficialYoutubeChanneltofurther educate the public about standards and other quality infrastructure related issues.

Trinidad & Tobago• Ishopingtofocusonconformityassessmentmorein2015.

• Iscooperatingwiththetourismdevelopmententityto have a quality mark issued in the tourism sector.

It has been a particularly active final quarter for CROSQ in 2014. Apart from the end of national consultations on the RQI policy, a number of Member States closed out the year with conformity assessment workshops. There was the meeting of the CROSQ Council for its Annual General Meeting in The Bahamas in October, coupled with the start of a new national dialogues project designed to bring stakeholders and National Standards Bureaus closer together. Officers attended the Interamerican Metrology System (SIM) Week of activities in Colombia; CROSQ likewise attended the sitting COTED in November and there were more activities for December.

Here are some of the CROSQ-related activities during the period September to December 2014.

AT A GLANCECROSQ 10th EDF Project Manager, Ms Karlene Russell distributing bookmarks at The St. Michael School after a BNSI & CROSQ presentation there.

The Technical Implementation Group – Standards meeting in Jamaica.

CROSQ Council members with representatives of the German Metrology Institute (PTB) and the The Dominican Republic’s Institute for Quality (INDOCAL) as the Council’s AGM 2014 wrapped in The Bahamas.

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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: crosq.caricom@crosq.orgWebsite: 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: servicioalcliente@indocal.gob.do

CARIFORUM

Standards Bodies Across The Region