JANAAC Rebrands as Global Accreditation Organisation

Jamaica’s national accreditation agency has been rebranded with a new name and refreshed identity that better reflects the entity’s position as a globally recognised accreditation organisation.

The new-look JANAAC Global Accreditation will focus on promoting global trade, increasing consumer confidence and market access through internationally accepted accreditation and training services.

The revamped image, including new logo, brand colours, vision and mission statements, were unveiled at a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Breakfast and Rebranding event on June 11 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, in his address, said the rebranding “marks a new chapter for the agency that aptly reflects its international impact”.

“This internationally recognised accreditation body has long been a pillar of trust and quality assurance in the domestic regional and global marketplace… . What was once known as the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation is now JANAAC Global Accreditation,” he pointed out.

Senator Hill commended the entity for its initiative in seeking to expand its services to the global marketplace.

The rebranding is part of overall strategy by JANAAC to emphasise the strength of its capabilities and commitment to expanding global recognition of its accreditation programmes and making an impact in the accreditation industry.

It will play a key role in strengthening Jamaica’s export market by ensuring that the quality of the products that are exported meets international standards in keeping with its mandate of ‘Confirming Competence… Providing Confidence in the Marketplace’.

Noting that “accreditation is the visa for global access”, JANAAC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sharonmae S. Walker, said the revamped entity will provide a competitive advantage to Jamaican exporters seeking to enter new markets.

“We are rebranding because we recognise that the product that we have been offering Jamaica and the region is so impressive that it should be offered to the world,” she said.

As part of its transformation, the new website for JANAAC Global Accreditation will facilitate improved digital access.

The new website, which will go live on Friday (June 14), will mirror the agency’s new identity with a user-friendly interface that provides details of the names of accredited entities by country, accreditation scope across industries, as well as outline the services provided by the agency.

Mrs. Walker said the entity’s strategic business plans include the opening of a satellite office in Guyana during this fiscal year, extending its international reach.

Incorporated in March 2007, JANAAC has had many notable achievements, which have helped to strengthen trade between Jamaica and its partners.

On March 19, 2024, JANAAC was granted its fourth Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC) multilateral recognition arrangement (MLA) for accreditation of calibration laboratories to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard.

This adds to JANAAC’s existing IAAC MLAs for Testing Laboratories (ISO/IEC 17025), Medical Laboratories (ISO 15189) and Inspection Bodies (ISO/IEC 17020), solidifying its position as a global leader in accreditation.

On February 26, 2024, the Agency received recognition from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods (LAAF) programme.

On the FDA’s Public Registry Listing of Recognized Accreditation Bodies, JANAAC is one of only eight recognised accreditation bodies (ABs) globally and the sole AB in the Caribbean authorised to accredit food-testing laboratories according to the standards outlined in the LAAF final rule.

It is also one of only four accreditation bodies that have been recognised by the FDA for its Accredited Third-Party Certification programme.

JANAAC Global Accreditation is the only internationally recognised accreditation body in the English-speaking Caribbean, delivering technical training and accreditation services to laboratories, inspection and certification bodies in 11 CARICOM states, including Jamaica, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.