General Standards
The country has an open economy and there are no significant market access problems connected to standards and technical regulations. Panama is a member of the WTO and as a result it follows the WTO's Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, which includes the Code of Good Practice for the Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards.
Goods for which Panama does not have standards can access the market if they comply with regulations of the US, Europe and other industrialized countries.
Standards Organizations
The Directorate General of Standards and Industrial Technology (DGNTI) is responsible for establishing technical regulations and standards in Panama. The DGNTI has been mostly dedicated to establishing standards for food products. The agency performs its functions through three departments: Standards, Certifications, and the Information Center.
Conformity Assessment
Conformity assessment in Panama is performed by the DGNTI and a number of other public and private organizations such as the Central Laboratory of Health, the University of Panama, the Technological University of Panama, the National Secretariat of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Agricultural Development, the Consumer Protection Authority and Defense of Competition and the Agricultural Marketing Institute.
Product Certification
The DGNTI issues a conformity assessment certificate once the conformity assessments have been performed. DGNTI is the only organization authorized to issue conformity assessments for products. Private organizations such as SGS and Bureau Veritas perform conformity assessments on system or procedures.
Accreditation
The National Council for Accreditation (CNA) is the main authority in charge of the national accreditation. The Council is formed by a number of government organizations including the Ministries of Commerce, Health and Agricultural Development, and the National Secretariat of Science and Technology.
Accreditation is largely voluntary. However it is obligatory for organizations that deal with fuel laboratories and environmental testing laboratories.
There are three accreditation categories: laboratories (calibration and testing), inspection organizations, and certifying organizations.
Labeling and Marking
Labels are required to provide basic information such as: name and address of manufacturer, expiration date, list of ingredients, lot number, and the product form (ex. powder, liquid). Labels should be in Spanish. At present, this regulation is enforced for medicines, agricultural chemicals, toxic products, and food products that require specific instructions or warnings. Labeling and marking for food products must comply with CODEX Alimentarius guidelines.
Contacts
Consejo Nacional de Acreditacion (CNA)
Website: http://www.cna.gob.pa
E-mail: aemoron@mici.gob.pa
Contact Person: Ahmed Moron, Section Chief
Address: P.O. Box 0815-01119, Panama, Republic of Panama
Tel: +507 560-0715
Fax: +507 560-0715
