submitted by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS)
The CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) is celebrating its 20th anniversary since its establishment two decades ago on July 05, 2001. The aim of CROSQ is to promote efficiency and the competitive production of goods and services, through the process of Standardisation and the verification of quality across the Region.
The organisation is comprised of National Standards Bodies (NSBs) from each member state, such as the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS). The GNBS has been actively participating in this process to develop and promote standards at the regional level. Regional Standards are used for trade, regulatory purposes and as industry guides for products, services, and process quality.
They further assist with the implementation of the WTO (World Trade Organisation) Agreement that deals with Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), which was signed by most Member States (MSs) of CARICOM. With Regional Standards, the aim is to reduce the incidence of standards and regulations being used as barriers to trade. Many of these National Standards are adapted/adopted at the National level to become National Standards. To date, GNBS as an NSB has supported the development and adoption of more than fifty regional standards. These standards primarily relate to agriculture, consumer products and food, and are being used in our local industries to improve products manufactured, making them readily acceptable on the regional market.
Apart from facilitating the implementation of the Regional Standardisation programme, CROSQ assisted the GNBS with access to technical assistance available outside the Region. Guyana received the necessary support to commence the implementation of the components of an internationally recognized Quality Infrastructure (QI) for Standardisation, Conformity Assessment (including Accreditation) and Metrology, to contribute to satisfying global demands. These components of QI, necessary for bilateral and multilateral trade, are particularly important for developing countries like those in the Caribbean that need to build and grow their production sectors.
CROSQ in support of the regional and national Quality Infrastructure (NQI) development, has consistently offered support for growing Standards bureaus. In particular, GNBS’s National Quality Awards Programme 2021 was sponsored partially by the 11 EDF through the EU and CROSQ. Their active participation in these Initiatives has enhanced business competitiveness, fostered sustainability, and support the socio-economical development of the region. As this support is offered to all Caricom Standards Bureaus.
