January 29, 2015 – GEORGETOWN, GUYANA – A leading provider of internationally recognised accreditation services that improve consumer confidence, facilitate market access and economic growth, invited various businesses in Guyana aspiring to become accredited to international standards.
The event was hosted yesterday at the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), Exhibition Complex Sophia, Georgetown. Facilitating the process was Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC) Sharonmae Shirley. The JANAAC official explained that accreditation allows people to make an informed decision when selecting a laboratory, as it demonstrates competence, impartiality and capability. It helps to underpin the credibility and performance of goods and services.
Ms. Shirley noted that laboratory accreditation is generally provided by one recognized accreditation body within a country. In some developing economies, without established accreditation bodies, laboratories may have to seek accreditation from an established accreditation system in another country such as JANAAC. Emphasizing that accreditation increases the confidence that international consumers and their regulatory agencies have in the goods and services provided by businesses, the CEO said it also tells the world that your business is technically competent and meets all the requirements of an international standard. Therefore, businesses that are accredited will not only meet regulatory requirements but also have a marketing edge.
Ms Shirley further explained that by becoming accredited, medical and testing labs eliminate doubts about their results, performance and affirm competence in their respective areas of expertise. Internationally, exporters have lost millions of dollars over the years because of the detention of their products in the ports of entry of importing countries. This is largely due to the fact that the products were not tested by an accredited lab prior to entering their markets. An attractive business opportunity therefore exist for labs that are accredited by JANAAC, to provide testing services to exporters who are seeking to eliminate these technical barriers to trade.
She underscored that JANAAC provides internationally recognised accreditation services and training to Laboratories, Inspection Bodies and Certification Bodies that facilitate market access, enhance competitiveness and consumer wellbeing through improved stakeholder confidence in the quality and integrity of goods and services supplied.
JANAAC is currently a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC). The agency is also an associate organization of the Caribbean Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (CLAS).
As Jamaica’s national accreditation body, JANAAC plays a very important role in facilitating trade between Jamaica and its trading partners. Through the provision of accreditation services, the agency enables local Conformity Assessment Systems to meet international standards and eliminate some Technical Barriers that have affected Jamaican manufacturers and exporters for many years. (As published in the Kaieteur News Online)
