On February 23, 2024 the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published the Climate Action Amendments to the ISO Management Systems Standards (MSS). These changes were made to support the ISO London Declaration, which commits to combating climate change and contributing to the global climate agenda. The purpose of these changes is to ensure that organizations will consider climate change issues when assessing the organization’s context and the needs of interested parties.

While these changes apply to all management systems standards, this notice addresses TTBS’ certification programmes which currently include ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018. The amendments are included in the following international standards which are available at the ISO website or the TTBS Standards Information Centre:

• ISO 9001:2015/Amd 1:2024 Quality management systems – Requirements – Amendment 1: Climate action changes
• ISO 14001:2015/Amd 1:2024 – Environmental management systems – Requirements with guidance for use – Amendment 1: Climate action changes
• ISO 45001:2018/Amd 1:2024 – Occupational health and safety management systems
  Requirements with guidance for use – Amendment 1: Climate action changes

The amendments are as follows:

• 4.1 Understanding the organization and its context.
  Added: The organization shall determine whether climate change is a relevant issue.
• 4.2 Understanding the needs and expectations of interested parties.
  Added: NOTE: Relevant interested parties can have requirements related to climate change.

Please note that amendments are applicable with immediate effect.

TTBS certified clients are expected to determine whether climate change issues are relevant or not and if so, address it accordingly in your management system. To obtain additional details regarding these changes and the comprehensive list of standards included in the joint communiqué, please visit the IAF website at https://iaf.nu/en/news/iaf-and-iso-publish-joint-communique/.

Should you require further information please contact the Certification Division of TTBS at (T) 868 662 8827 Ext 2221 (C) 773-9178 (E) certification@ttbs.org.tt

Official Correspondence

Mr Rodney Ramnath
Manager, Certification Division

Date : Wednesday 27th September, 2023
Time : 10am- 12pm
Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87090852171
Registration closes on Tuesday 26th September, 2023 @1:00pm

Date: April 19th 2023

All stakeholders in the construction industry have been notified that a moratorium period of 62 days has been issued for the enforcement of concrete and clay blocks standards.

The moratorium for the enforcement of the National Compulsory Standards: TTCS 2:2022 Concrete Masonry Units – Compulsory Requirements & TTS 587:2005 Hollow Clay Block Vertical Core – Specifications will begin 18^th April, 2023 and will end on 19^th June, 2023. Enforcement is set to occur from 20^th June, 2023.

By the end of the Moratorium, all blocks under the purview of the standard and offered for sale within Trinidad & Tobago must demonstrate compliance via certification from TTBS.  Failure to comply would result in a breach of the Standards Act (Act No. 18 of 1997) and Standards Regulations (Legal Notice 234 of 2004) and TTBS reserves the right to take all necessary actions on non-compliant products.

The National Standard, TTCS 2:2022 Concrete Masonry Units – Compulsory Requirements applies to concrete masonry units which are manufactured from hydraulic cement, water and mineral aggregates. This standard is based on ASTM C90, Standard Specification for Loadbearing Concrete Masonry Units. It does not apply to autoclaved aerated concrete masonry units.

The National Standard, TTS 587:2005 Hollow Clay Block Vertical Core – Specifications, identifies the requirements for vertical core, hollow building blocks (also called hollow blocks or blocks), made from clay, shale, fire clay, or mixtures thereof, and fired to incipient fusion. This standard covers two grades of hollow blocks that are classified as Grade 1 and Grade 2.

This moratorium and forthcoming enforcement continues to build this country’s National Quality Infrastructure, and forms part of TTBS’ mandate to enforce standards in order to improve the quality and performance of goods produced or used in the country, as well as to ensure industrial welfare, health and safety.

To purchase e-copy of TTS 587:2005 Hollow Clay Block – Vertical Core – Specification please use https://gottbs.com/product/tts-587-2005-hollow-clay-block-vertical-core-specification/

To view or purchase a hard copy of TTS 587:2005 Hollow Clay Block – Vertical Core – Specification, please  visit our Standards Information Centre located 1-2 Century Drive Trinity Industrial Estate Macoya.

For special arrangements, contact Nalini Neranjen at 662-8827 ext 2032 or via email Nalini.nernajen@ttbs.org.tt.

-ENDS-

Register via ZOOM on the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87608509162?pwd=OUpFcVRTbkRqUjNYV1hpK2xpbytqU

Click here for more info on the standard:
http://ttstandards.ttbs.org.tt/stds.php?s=TTS%20587:2005

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.

(L-R): Manager Implementation Division, Gerard Maxwell; JANAAC CEO, Sharomae Shirley; High Commissioner Jamaica, His Excellency Arthur Williams; Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, the Honorable Aubyn Hill; TTBS Chairman, Lawford Dupres; Minister of Trade and Industry, the Honorable Paula Gopee-Scoon; TTBS Executive Director, Jose Trejo and Manager Certification Division, Rodney Ramnath

End

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

Click here to view Scope of Accreditation

Date: Wednesday 21^st September, 2022
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon

Click link to register: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82633510574?pwd=elU3dGI4K3hUeWJzR0xQaWErOEJHZz09

To learn more about the Metrology Practitioner Registration Programme visit – https://gottbs.com/mpr

For further information, please contact Kevin Grant Sr. at telephone: (868) 662-8827 ext. 2222 or email: kevin.grant@ttbs.org.tt