The CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards & Quality follows the internationally established method of standards development. In our instance, that process begins with the recognition of the need for a specific standard and a proposal that such a standard is developed for regional use. That process is referred to as a New Work Item Proposal (NWIP).
That proposal then has to be accepted by the CROSQ Council, which is comprised of the directors of each of the 15 Member States’ standards bureaux, to kick start the process.
The process steps:
The TMC comprises a senior Standards Development Official (e.g. Heads of Standards Development) from each of the 15 CARICOM NSBs. COTED refers to the CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development as represented by Ministers designated by Member States.
Below is a table of standards currently under development, or on hold. This table will be updated periodically, but at least twice per year. [Last updated August 29, 2022)
*NB:
All requests, enquiries or comments on Draft CARICOM Regional Standards out for Public Comment, should be directed through the Bureau of Standards in a CARICOM Member State.
All published CARICOM Regional Standards are available for purchase from the Bureau of Standards in a CARICOM Member State; or the CROSQ Secretariat.
All draft and published CARICOM Regional Standards are copyrighted to the CARICOM Regional Organization for Standards and Quality.
Standards Under Development
| Code and/or Name of Standard | Stage of Standard | Member State Leading Development | Priority Level | Comments on Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labelling of Pre-packaged Foods -Revision | Draft Standard | Suriname | High | Standard returned to stage 40 due to lack of consensus at voting stage. Comments received at the voting stage are being disposed by the RTSC |
| Specification for Rum | Working Draft | Barbados | High | Standard revision is being undertaken by RTC 3 (Processed foods. Working group established for the development of the WD. Working Draft being developed. |
| Hand Sanitisers - Alcohol-based | Final Draft Standard | Antigua and Barbuda | High | FDCRS circulated for acceptance. Deadline date 17 February 2023 |
| Specification for White Sugar | Final Draft Standard | Guyana | High | Standard submitted to 52nd COTED standard approval differed pending resolution of Trinidad and Tobago and Belize's negative votes. |
| Labelling of Biodegradable Products | Draft Standard | Dominica | High | FDCRS cirulated for acceptance with a deadline of 16 March 2022. Received 1 negative vote which will be resolved prior to submission to COTED |
| Tobacco Advertising, Sponsorship, Sale and Promotion | Draft Standard | Saint Lucia | Medium | FDCRS circulated for acceptance with a deadline 21 December 2022. |
| Nutritional Labelling - Guidelines | Draft Standard | Jamaica | Normal | DCRS circulated for comments and comments are currently being addressed by the RTSC |
| Construction of Houses - Code of Practice | Working Draft | Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines | Normal | Joint hosting of RPT with Dominica and St. Vincent & The Grenadines. Standard at Stage 50. FDCRCP circulaled to MS for acceptance. Deadline 10 March 2023e |
| Cocoa Beans: Part 1: Cocoa Beans - Sampling | New Proposal | Trinidad and Tobago | Normal | Standard is at Stage 10. RTSC being constituted. |
| Cocoa Beans: Part 2: Cocoa Beans - Specification and Quality Requirements | New Proposal | Trinidad and Tobago | Normal | Standard is at Stage 10. RTSC being constituted. |
| Professional Engineering Sevices -COP | New Proposal | Saint Lucia | Normal | Standard is at Stage 10. RTSC being constituted. |
| CARICOM Compost - Specification | New Proposal | Guyana | Normal | Standard is at Stage 10. RTSC being constituted. |
| Sodium Hypochlorite Solutions | Final Draft Standard | Trinidad and Tobago | Normal | FDCRS approved at 55th COTED. Standard to be circulated to MS for publishing and adoption. |
| Pesticides - Labelling | Final Draft Standard | Trinidad and Tobago | Normal | FDCRS approved at 55th COTED. Standard to be circulated to MS for publishing and adoption. |
| Non-Medical Face Masks | Final Draft Standard | Trinidad and Tobago | High | FDCRS approved at 55th COTED. Standard to be circulated to MS for publishing and adoption. |
Standards on Hold
| Code and/or Name of Standard | Stage of Standard | Member State Leading Development | Priority Level | Comments on Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Cables - Specification | On hold | Trinidad and Tobago | On Hold | Standard development suspended - TMC to determine need for standard at this point |
| Tourist Accommodation Part IV -Apartments and Condos | New Proposal/On hold | To be determined | On Hold | New Work Item approved but development placed on hold. |
| Tourist Accommodation Part V - Bed and Breakfast | New Proposal/On hold | To be determined | On Hold | New Work Item approved but development placed on hold. |
| Tourist Accommodation Part VI - Villas, Cottages and Cabanas Part | New Proposal/On hold | To be determined | On Hold | New Work Item approved but development placed on hold. |
| Tourist Accommodation Part VII - Home Accommodation | New Proposal/On hold | To be determined | On Hold | New Work Item approved but development placed on hold. |
| Flat-plate Photovoltaic (PV) Modules and Panels – Requirements | New Proposal/On hold | To be determined | On Hold | New Work Item approved but development placed on hold. |
| Cocoa Beans: Part 3: Specific Requirements for Fine or Flavour Cocoa | On hold | Trinidad and Tobago | On Hold | |
| Cocoa Beans: Part 4: Sustainable and Traceable Cocoa | On hold | Trinidad and Tobago | On Hold |
