Submitted by the Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards
The Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards has added another achievement to its list of successes. Its Metrology Laboratory, responsible for measurements, has been issued an international accreditation certificate to ISO 17025 in the field of calibration.
ISO 17025 specifies the general requirements for the competence to carry out tests and/or calibrations, including sampling. It covers testing and calibration performed using standard methods, non-standard methods, and laboratory-developed methods. Accreditation means that the SLBS Metrology Laboratory has been assessed for the technical competence in calibration services and the calibration results produced meet the all specifications for technically sound findings.
The milestone achievement was made possible through the funding of the Caribbean Development Bank, through its “Strengthening of the Regional Quality Infrastructure Project”, implemented by the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards & Quality (CROSQ). The accreditation was conducted by the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC), and is the first calibration laboratory to be so accredited by that institution.
The success reverberated across the quality institutions of the region, especially given the SLBS’ previous success in securing ISO 9001:2015 certification. The Bureau has maintained that the two achievements “affirm the SLBS’ ability to consistently provide quality products, services and deliver results which meet technical requirements globally”. In 2015, the SLBS’ Metrology Department was also the recipient of the 2015 OIML Award for Excellent Achievements in Legal Metrology in Developing Countries, the only Caribbean country to achieve this honour to date.
Director of the Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards, Mr. Verne Emmanuel commended the efforts of all involved, particularly the staff of the Metrology and Certification Departments. He underscored the Bureau’s commitment to its mandate to administer and promote the national quality infrastructure, and ensure that its own systems and processes are robust and built on a solid foundation of standards and quality.
He also noted that while the accreditation was awarded in the scope of mass and volume, the lab is also eyeing expansion into the area of temperature as well. The priority, he added, was to ensure the needs of the economy were met and there was a robust, credible and supporting infrastructure for legal metrology to support businesses expansion into global markets.
CROSQ CEO, Mr. Deryck Omar likewise congratulated the bureau on behalf of the network of 15 Bureaux of Standards which the institution supports.
“Successes like this give us all hope that we are moving in a direction to solidly support industry and the development of the region’s trading capacity. The more we are able to move our regional quality institutions to international recognition, the more assurance we are able to supply for business sectors that we can support their needs and help them expand.
“Funding partners like the CDB are treasured in providing the kind of funds and allowing us to also supply the technical assistance needed to help our quality institutions to develop. Under this project we would have seen the accreditation of trade and now metrology laboratories, the development of National Quality Policies and the education and sensitisation of the business sector – these are initiatives we fully plan to expand moving forward,” said the regional head.
Additional Highlights:
- SLBS Newsletter
- SLBS Director, Mr. Verne Emmanuel Speaks on the Accreditation
- SLBS Metrology Dept. Head, Mr. Anselm Gittens on the Accreditation
For more information contact:
- SLBS Head of Department – Communications, Mrs. Vernet St. Omer-Fontenelle – v.fontenelle@slbs.org or (758) 453-0049/720-8756
- CROSQ Technical Officer, Quality Promotions, Ms. Latoya Burnham – latoya.burnham@crosq.org or (246) 622-7671
