The 2015 COPANT (Pan American Standards Commission) General Assembly was held on April 14 and 15 in Mexico City, successfully organized by the Dirección General de Normas, the COPANT member for Mexico.
The opening ceremony of the meeting included the distinguished presence of the Deputy Secretary for Competitiveness and Normativity of the Ministry of Economy, Mrs. Rocio Ruiz Chavez, who noted that Mexico is committed to participate more actively at regional and international level and is pleased to see that COPANT has evolved to be a strategic body that generates opportunities for cooperation and dialogue, better representing the voice of our region. During the opening ceremony had also the presence of the Deputy Secretary of Quality and Regulation of the Ministry of Tourism, Mr. Francisco Mass Peña, who mentioned that among the measures to boost the quality and competitiveness of tourism standardization is considered as a strategic pillar in that Ministry. Mexico is becoming a major tourist destination, growing in tourist arrivals in 2014 by 20.5%. We were also honored with the presence of the President of IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), Dr. Junji Nomura who stressed that this organization can support countries in the COPANT region to verify the safety of electrical appliances and encouraged to participate in IEC activities. For his part, the Vice President of Policy for ISO (International Organization for Standardization), Mr. John Walter, who is also the CEO of the Standards Body of Canada, a member of COPANT, acknowledged the leadership of Mexico in the region, which facilitated the venue to develop COPANT activities during the week building a solid foundation of friendship, trust and cooperation activities on the benefit of the region.
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.
The 2015 meeting was attended by 25 active members, 6 adherent members and 9 invited organizations, totalling 94 delegates at the meeting. The most important activity during this meeting, with a preparatory session the day before, was to define through four working groups, the strategic planning 2016-2020. The four working groups reaffirmed their leaders and analyzed and defined objectives and activities to achieve compliance with the four Strategic Priorities of COPANT which are:
- Building Capacities – Led by Mexico and Argentina;
- Increasing International Participation in Targeted Areas – Led by Brazil and the United States;
- Promoting Effective Conformity Assessment Services – Led by Chile and Colombia; and
- Strengthening Regional Collaboration and Cooperation – Led by Costa Rica and Trinidad & Tobago.
During the meeting is also noteworthy the signing of a cooperation agreement between COPANT and CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality, CROSQ.
During the week of COPANT a Workshop was conducted on Perspectives of Standardization and Conformity Assessment for Leaders of the NSBs, organized by the Mexican Accreditation Agency – EMA, and which also included speakers from Canada and the United States, who shared the structure and functioning of their national quality systems.
On Friday April 17 DGN organizes visits to companies and organizations for delegates COPANT, among which are highlighted visits to the Cerveceria Modelo, facility of NYCE-ANCE-MABE and the food industry Yakult.
Two meetings were also carried out on COPANT Focal Group on Tourism Services, led by Mexico; and the of the Spanish Translation Management Board of ISO, whose secretariat is with AENOR Spain.
The General Assembly session concluded with a dinner hosted by the hosts with typical dances of the country.
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This is a press release of the Pan American Standards Commission (COPANT). Photos reproduced from COPANT.
