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A focus on standardisation at the level of the CARICOM region

Jul 08, 2018 Features / Columnists, Standards in Focus

Global trade agreements [such as the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)] between the countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the European Union (EU)), are guided by Agreements of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Most Member States (MSs) of CARICOM are signatories to the WTO Agreements. Membership of the WTO obliges adherence to the Multilateral Agreements including the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), which are aimed at reducing the incidence of standards and regulations being used as barriers to trade.
­The realities and priorities in the Caribbean are different from those that obtain in the developed world. ­The relatively small size of Caribbean economies obliges the region to respond to the needs of the international market through functional cooperation including the sharing of critical services and joint undertaking of key activities, which would enable them to reduce costs, and at the same time meet the necessary quality infrastructure (QI) requirements.
National Standards Bodies (NSBs) such as the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) and the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) develop and promote standards at the national level. Through Regional projects NSBs are being supported to implement the components of an internationally-recognised quality infrastructure (QI) for Standardisation, Conformity Assessment (including Accreditation) and Metrology, in order to contribute to satisfying global demands.
These components of QI, necessary for bilateral and multilateral trade, are particularly important for developing countries like those in the Caribbean that need to build and grow their production sectors. They also provide vital competitive advantage to the local businesses and firms.
Standards and Technical Regulations fall under Chapter Four of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, specifically Part Three, which addresses Common Supportive Measures. Article 67 requires that the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), in collaboration with competent agencies, develop a standardization programme consistent with the international obligations of the Member States.
The programme objectives include trade facilitation, enhanced efficiency in the production and delivery of goods and services; improved quality of goods and services traded within the Community and with third States; and consumer and environmental protection.
CARICOM Member States established the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) under Article 67 that was signed by the Heads of Government of CARICOM on 5 July 2001. CROSQ, as the Regional Standards Body, was established to facilitate implementation of the Standardisation programme and assist the Member States in understanding and fulfilling their obligations under this Treaty of Chaguaramas and other international agreements.
CROSQ also promotes the development of national standards bodies in the Member States; and facilitate access to technical assistance available in the Member States and outside the Region.
To date, GNBS as an NSB has supported the development and adoption of more than forty regional standards. These standards primarily relate to agriculture and consumer products. These regional standards are adopted nationally and are being used in industry to improve the products manufactured; making these products readily acceptable on the regional market. In addition, at the regional level, significant focus is being placed on Energy Efficiency; and with this in mind, projects are being undertaken to develop and implement a Regional Energy Efficiency Building Code.
This Code aims guide the construction of new and existing building with designs and materials that minimize the use of energy. Further, regional standards for the monitoring and use of Energy efficient appliances, such as refrigerators, freezers, and AC units entering the Region are being developed. This is to facilitate the purchase and use of appliances with good energy star ratings in the Region.

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