The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) is now internationally certified, as it has attained its ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems Certificate. Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin on Monday handed over the certificate to the agency at the Herdmanston Lodge.
“I think it is another step in the right direction. It is consistent with the mandate of Bureau; if you are promoting standards and you assisting in the accrediting of various bodies, it is only natural that the bureau is accredited as well,” the minister said while commending the agency.
Attaining the ISO9001:2015 certificate has always been a goal for the agency for a number of years, according to Director of the GNBS, Candelle Walcott-Bostwick, who noted that the bureau has worked consistently towards improving its system internally.
“We cannot sell standards or tell persons how standards will benefit them and we are not demonstrating that. We are indeed using the standards to improve our system so that we can become more efficient.”
According to the Director, last year the agency made a commitment to achieve the certificate in one year; this was achieved in January 2018. She commended her staff for their dedication to ensuring all of its Standards Operating Procedures were in keeping with the requirements.
“Now that we have received this certification, it is a demonstration that we will provide quality, consistent and reliable services…we will consistently improve our internal system so that we can serve you better.”
The ISO 9001 is the international standard that specifies requirements for a quality management system. Organisations use the standard to demonstrate the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.
The GNBS aims to improve the quality of goods and services in Guyana by partnering with Government, consumers, and industry through the process of Standardisation.
It also aims to promote the National Quality Infrastructure for economic, social development and consumer protection in partnership with key sectors through Standards, Metrology and Conformity Assessment.
The Bureau on Monday also launched the World Trade Organisation/Technical Barrier to Trade Agreement (TBT) Enquiry Point (database) to enhance local trade bodies and improve trade relations with member states of the WTO.
Gaskin explained the TBT enquiry point is a mechanism used to notify international stakeholders of changes in trade regulations within WTO member states. He noted it also allows for countries to provide feedback on those changes.
In March 2010, the GNBS was designated as the TBT Enquiry point for Guyana which was charged with supplying WTO and foreign countries, with information on compulsory local standards and technical regulations related to products under the TBT agreement.
