Jamaica Can Benefit Significantly from Accredited Conformity Assessments
By: August 28, 2018 ,The Key Point:
The Facts
- A conformity assessment directly or indirectly determines whether a process, product, service, or person meets and fulfils stipulated technical standards.
- The engagement includes certification, inspection, testing, calibration, validation, and verification activities.
The Full Story
Chairman of the Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC), Randy Dougherty, says Jamaica’s industry and commerce sectors can benefit significantly from the globally recognised accredited conformity assessments.
A conformity assessment directly or indirectly determines whether a process, product, service, or person meets and fulfils stipulated technical standards.
The engagement includes certification, inspection, testing, calibration, validation, and verification activities.
These are performed by certification, inspection, validation or verification bodies, as also testing and calibration laboratories, collectively called conformity assessment bodies (CABs).
Mr. Dougherty said an accredited conformity assessment allows locally manufactured products to be recognised regionally and globally.
“It opens up the market for industries… moving the market beyond just being Jamaica. [Producers] also don’t have to be concerned about being subjected to additional testing when they try to sell in other markets,” the Chairman added.
He was addressing an accreditation seminar at the IAAC’s 23rd Annual General Assembly at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa in Montego Bay, St. James, on Monday (August 27).
Mr. Dougherty noted that accredited conformity assessments provide flexible alternatives to regulation for governments and regulators.
“It provides for efficient monitoring because (an) accredited conformity assessment is not a one-shot deal… it is an ongoing activity,” he pointed out.
This, the Chairman added, will engender consumer confidence in and assurance of the quality and standard of products they use.
IAAC Annual General Assembly is being hosted locally for the first time by the Government through the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC), which falls under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, and forms part of JANAAC’s 10th anniversary celebrations.
The General Assembly is being held from August 25 to 31.
JANAAC provides accreditation services to CABs, such as laboratories and inspection and certification agencies, regionally.
In the past three years, Jamaica, through JANAAC, has established itself as an accreditation services market leader in the Caribbean, with the agency having a presence in seven CARICOM states.
The IAAC is a regional organisation that works through the joint efforts of organisations and professionals in the area of accreditation and conformity assessment.