General Standards
Standards organizations
The Bureau of Standards and Quality (BBS) is a standardization agency recently formed in the Bahamas. The Bahamas Bureau of Standards became a correspondent member of ISO in 2013. The agency specializes in standardization, metrology, testing, and quality assurance services.
The main responsibilities of the BBS include the following:
- prepare, promote and generally adopt standards on a national, regional or international basis; and facilitate implementation of standards in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas;
- certify those products, commodities, processes, services and quality systems that conform to the national standard;
- collect and disseminate information on standards and related technical matters nationally, regionally and internationally;
- maintain testing laboratories, for the purpose of testing and examining commodities, products, materials, processes, practices and services and in so doing, conduct such investigations or research as may be necessary;
- test precision instruments, gauges and scientific apparatus both for the purpose of determining their accuracy and calibration, and the calibration of standards used in industrial and commercial activities;
- co-ordinate the efforts of producers and users of materials, products, appliances, processes methods and services for the improvement of those materials, products, appliances, processes, methods and services;
- do such other things as may be necessary to provide for standardization in The Commonwealth of the Bahamas;
- inform policymakers on standardization and related technical matters.
The Bahamas Bureau of Standards is a member of the following organizations:
- a full member of the CARICOM Regional Organization for Standards and Quality (CROSQ)
- a full member of the Pan American Standards Commission (COPANT)
Conformity Assessment
There exist limited labs in the Bahamas and no national testing organizations.
Product Certification
Meat products - the meat certification program requires that all meat animals (cows, pigs, sheep, goats) are to be slaughtered at the government abattoir and be subject to inspections to certify compliance and conformance to basic standards.
Fisheries – Bahamian fish exporters are increasingly becoming certified in Hazard analysis and critical control points or HACCP. These programs have been supported the public and private sector and today all fisheries exports are processed using best international standards.
Accreditation
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is the key accreditation agency, but it has limited capacity to test or accredit findings. The Government is working to create certification systems in compliance with international standards.
Contacts
Bahamas Bureau of Standards & Quality/Ministry of Financial Services
E-mail: rfbufford@gmail.com
Address: P.O. Box N-4843, Manx Corporate Centre, 3 Floor East Wing, West Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas
Tel: +1 242-328-5071 /+1 242-397-9900
