2024-03-06 – Today, Tobagonians witnessed a historic moment as the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) unveiled its new Tobago Sub-Office, located at the D Colosseum Building II, corner of Airport Bypass and Milford Road, Crown Point, Tobago. This strategic initiative, launched on Wednesday, 6th March, 2024, marks a significant milestone in fostering a culture of standards and quality assurance in Tobago, while simultaneously propelling economic development on the island.

A Historic Milestone for Tobago

The establishment of the Tobago Sub-Office is a testament to TTBS’s unwavering commitment to advancing the National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) in our twin island nation. The Sub-Office, functions as a central hub for activities such as inspections, re-inspections, surveillances and stakeholder engagements. By bringing the Bureau’s services closer to Tobagonians, this move aims to enhance access to quality assurance tools and services, empowering local businesses and industries to meet international standards and compete effectively in the global market.

In her remarks at the inauguration ceremony, Minister of Trade and Industry, Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, emphasized the pivotal role of the new Sub-Office in supporting Tobago’s economic landscape. She stated, “The collaboration between the Government, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), and TTBS underscores a unified effort towards achieving national goals and in exemplary fashion it is a true reflection of the Government’s commitment to decentralization, ensuring that the benefits of standardization and quality assurance not only meets but satisfies the needs of our citizenry.”

Expanding Quality Assurance Services

The Legal Metrology Inspectorate (LMI) of the TTBS is responsible for ensuring that measurements used in trade adhere to established standards. Currently, the LMI has achieved 100% compliance for fuel dispensers, airport scales, and TTPOST scales in Tobago. However, there is a need for verifications in other areas of the business sector, such as markets, supermarkets, minimarts, and hardwares.  With staff permanently based in Tobago, the TTBS will ensure that these areas of the business sector are serviced.

Additionally, the TTBS Tobago Sub-Office will also offer access to the Certification Division, which verifies local goods and services meet standards through conformity assessment. This includes the Trinidad and Tobago Tourism Industry Certification (TTTIC), a tourism quality assurance program. Presently, about 25% of Tobago’s accommodation providers are TTTIC certified. The Sub-Office aims to increase this number, ensuring Tobagonian stakeholders benefit from TTTIC services.

Conclusion

TTBS remains committed to its mission of promoting a culture of excellence and quality in Trinidad and Tobago. The establishment of the Tobago Sub-Office is a testament to this commitment, and TTBS looks forward to working closely with Tobagonians to drive sustainable economic growth through quality assurance.

For more information about the Tobago Sub-Office and TTBS’s services, please visit www.gottbs.com or contact Ms. Natalie Dennie, Marketing Officer at 662-8827 ext. 2260 or email natlie.dennie@ttbs.org.tt

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Date:15^th May, 2023

The Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards remains committed to ensuring the accuracy of all measuring devices used in trade.

As part of TTBS’ mandate under the Metrology Act Chapter 82:06, our Legal Metrology Inspectorate (LMI) conducts regular verifications of measuring devices (market scales) at all Municipal markets. These verifications safeguard both the vendor and consumer by ensuring that the exact weight being sold is accurate. Verification also safeguards vendors by ensuring they are selling the exact weight of produce and not losing money per transaction.

TTBS wishes to assure all vendors that the verification fees are based on careful market study and analysis with a recommendation for a fee that is reasonable to vendors. The fee for market scales was developed using the formula in the Metrology Regulations, 2015 Schedule 7. The fees derived from the formula are considerably less for measuring devices that are used by market vendors when compared to other measuring devices. Fees are not for profit and are part of TTBS’ cost recovery.

The following table provides a breakdown for measuring devices associated with market scales:

Additionally, the table below outlines the fees associated with other measuring devices:

After a market scale has been verified, it is affixed with a yellow “PASSED” verification label. A certificate of verification is issued to the owner of the scale and remains valid for one year, once the scale maintains its accuracy. To maintain quality control, random spot checks can be conducted on the market scales to ensure they continuously weigh accurately.

If a scale fails to weigh accurately a “NOT FOR USE IN TRADE” label is affixed on the device and the vendor will not be allowed to use the device for trade. If it is found that a vendor is using a scale that is labelled “NOT FOR USE IN TRADE”, the scale can be seized. However, seizures can only be done with a warrant.

The LMI will continue its verification exercises throughout all Municipal markets. As of now, the following Regional Markets have been visited: Tunapuna, Arima, Point Fortin, Chaguanas, Sangre Grande, San-Fernando, San-Juan, Penal and Couva being the most recent.

LMI is currently performing verifications at the Princes Town Market and have visits scheduled at the Siparia, Marabella and Port-of Spain markets.

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You are invited to participate in the World Metrology Day 2023 Webinar: Measurements Supporting the Food Global System.

To register for the event, please click on the link below:
https://iso.zoom.us/j/92097004272?pwd=TnpkWWZXN1M1SmNTeitkcjZucExhZz09

Date: 2022-09-09

The Legal Metrology Inspectorate (LMI), a unit of the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) is set to resume verifications of market scales, commencing September 12^th, 2022 at the Tunapuna market. These verification activities will continue throughout all markets in Trinidad and Tobago.

The LMI is mandated under the Metrology Act Chapter 82:06 to monitor and verify prescribed measuring devices used in trade or commercial transactions, including market scales. The objective of the verification exercise is to ensure fair trade between the buyer and seller at the market, whilst also providing assurances that the quantity paid for by the customer is in fact received.

The verification process involves the inspection and testing of the market scale to ensure that it is measuring accurately. Once the device meets the requirements stipulated by the, Metrology Act, a yellow tamper proof pass label is affixed to the device and a verification certificate is issued which is valid for one year. If the device fails to meet the requirements in any way, a “not for use in trade” label is placed on it and the owner would not be allowed to use it for trade purposes until it is repaired, calibrated and re-verified.

Market scale verification occurs annually during which periodic surveillance is undertaken by the LMI.  Vendors who trade with an unverified prescribed measuring device can face penalties as stipulated in the Metrology Act.

The LMI is also advising vendors that verification fees will be charged based on the capacity of the device. For further information, vendors are encouraged to visit TTBS’ website, https://gottbs.com/lmi/ or contact the LMI directly at (868) 662-8827 ext. 2348 or (868) 750-0686, or via email at lmi@ttbs.org.tt.  

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Target Audience: Laboratory Personnel and Quality Manager of Laboratory

Date: 4th – 5th October 2022 (Online), 6th October 2022 (Site Visit)
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Venue: Online MS Teams
Facilitator: Ms Saira Knox
Cost: $1,500.00 (TT) plus V.A.T. per participant

For further information and to register please contact us at telephone: (868) 662-8827 ext. 2301 or email: metrology@ttbs.org.tt

This general metrology workshop has been specifically designed for persons whose tasks and responsibilities require an understanding of measurement and to assure that measurements are accurate and reliable.

Course Outline

Module 1 – Importance of Measurements
Module 2 – Introduction to Metrology
Module 3 – Basic Metrology Terms and Principles
Module 4 – Mathematical and Statistical Terms and Principles
Module 5 – Uncertainty in Measurement
Module 6 – Measurement Quality

Dates
The workshop will consist of four (4) half-day sessions beginning:
Monday 8th August 2022 to Thursday 11 August 2022
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon
Assessment: Friday 12th August 2022

Venue: MS Teams

Facilitator: Mr Siew Durga

Cost: $2,000.00 (TT) plus V.A.T. per participant

For further information and to register please contact telephone: (868) 662-8827 ext. 2301 or email: metrology@ttbs.org.tt

This theme was chosen, because digital technology is revolutionizing the metrology community, and is one of the most exciting trends in society today. The Metrology Division is part of the regional project Metrology for the Digital Transformation (M4DT). One of the cornerstones of digital transformation is the open and transparent exchange of information. The opportunities brought by digital transformation will be realized more quickly if the global quality infrastructure can be adapted to promote and use new digital technologies.

Date: Friday 20^th May, 2022

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Venue: Online via Zoom Meeting Link

Register at: https://tinyurl.com/TTBSWMD22

For further information, please contact us via email at metrology@ttbs.org.tt or telephone (868) 662-8827 Ext. 2301.