Date: March 10^th, 2023.

The country’s international trade capacity has been bolstered as the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) has now been validated as a competent provider of auditing and certification services.

This assurance is given following the TTBS’ Certification Division’s award of accreditation to ISO/IEC 17021:2015. This standard outlines the requirements for conformity assessment bodies that undertake auditing and certification of management systems.

On hand to receive the award on behalf of TTBS was Minister of Trade and Industry, the Honorable Paula Gopee-Scoon from the Honorable Aubyn Hill of the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, during Jamaica’s Trade Mission to T&T at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port-of-Spain on 9^th March, 2023.

Minister Gopee-Scoon said, “To help facilitate trade with Jamaica, and ensure that our products maintain high levels of quality and competitiveness, the government has committed to continue providing support under its various trade programmes…For instance, companies would continue to benefit from support to meet the certification and labelling requirements of our partners.”

Also on hand at the presentation ceremony was Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC) CEO, Mrs. Sharonmae Shirley, who noted, “Today’s presentation is a signal achievement for the Caribbean as a region… The Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has clearly articulated its priority to expand market access and deepen trade with targeted countries and markets of interest. We are confident that the accredited services of the TTBS will redound to the realisation of national trade goals and efforts to boost overall business among trading partners.”

Furthermore, in July of 2022, the Implementation Division earned its re-accreditation having maintained its quality management systems to support inspections at the highest standards of practice. To date, the Implementation Division is one of a few ISO/IEC 17020:2012 accredited Inspection Bodies in the Caribbean.

The significance of this achievement to businesses, regulators and consumers is the assurance which the Division has been providing over the last 6 years to consistently deliver technically competent services and reliable results within the scope of its three inspection schemes, viz:

• Carbon Steel Bars
• Refrigerant Containers
• Used Passenger Tyres

In October 2022, JANAAC approved the recommendation from the Accreditation Evaluation Committee (AEC), to grant this accreditation approval. Funding for accreditation was provided under the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality’s (CROSQ’s) 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Project.

Speaking on the awarding of the accreditation, TTBS Executive Director, Mr. José Trejo, said, “Achieving accreditation for the Certification Division and maintaining accreditation for the Implementation Division are critical for maintaining the highest level of quality and credibility in our services. This accreditation will contribute to the development of the National Quality Infrastructure and by extension the Regional Quality Infrastructure and will benefit Trinidad and Tobago as we continue to develop our economy and build a successful and prosperous society which is based on standards and quality.”

The ISO/IEC 17021 accreditation builds on previously attained awards namely, ISO/IEC 17020 and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditations and certification to ISO 9001:2015.  These achievements affirm the TTBS’ ability to consistently provide internationally recognized quality services and deliver results which meet global technical requirements.

TTBS Certification Division’s accreditation scopes include:

• Mining and Quarrying;
• Pulp, Paper and paper products;
• Printing companies;
• Concrete, cement, lime, plaster, etc.;
• Wholesale and retail trade: Repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and personal and   household goods and;
• Engineering services.

 

End

 

For further information, please contact:
Mr Rodney Ramnath, Manager Certification Division, TTBS
Tel:  662-8827 Ext 2220
Email: certification@ttbs.org.tt