Functions of the Bureau

Aims and Objectives

In order to promote the general welfare of the nation, the aims and objectives of the St. Lucia Bureau of Standards are as follows:

• To co-ordinate standardization and related activities at all levels (e.g. company, national, regional and international);

• To prepare and promulgate national standards;

• To promote and encourage the maintenance of standards for the improvement of goods and services, processes and practices either produced or used in St. Lucia. This may be effected through a national certification mark programme;

• To promote quality control in industry;

• To verify quality through inspection, testing and certification;

• To ensure industrial efficiency and development;

• To regulate all weights and measures activities to facilitate fair trading activities;

• To utilize standards to promote trade and safeguard the nation against "dumping" of goods of inferior 
  quality;

• To promote Metrology as a necessary accompaniment to standardization;

• To inform policy makers on all standardization and other relevant technical matters which require policy formulation.

The above thus highlights the activities of the Bureau in the major areas of:

• Preparation and promulgation of 
  standards;

• Product and system certification;

• Technical assistance/quality control;

• Inspection and testing; and

• Metrology.

Departmental Functions

Information Services

The Information Department co-ordinates the Bureau's public relations and public education programmes for the benefit of the private sector. Through the Information Department the general public and exporters can access information standards, technical regulations, conformity assessment procedures and other matters.

As the WTO Enquiry Point for Technical Barriers to Trade, this department is also responsible for the dissemination of technical regulations, which affect trade both locally and internationally, making notifications to the WTO, and keeping the Private Sector abreast with developments on Technical Barriers in international and regional markets. The Information department is also the Enquiry Point for all CODEX (Joint commission of the WHO/FAO for the development of international food standards) matters.  

Metrology

Metrology is the science of measurement. The Metrology Department of the St. Lucia Bureau of Standards is fully equipped and capable of providing much needed calibration services to the private sector. Such services will also assist businesses in operating within the legal framework of the Metrology Act. The unit offers traceability of measurement services, to provide credibility to local manufacturers on international markets, thereby increasing their competitiveness.


Compliance

Safety and protection of the consumer is a major focus of SLBS activities. The Compulsory Standards Compliance Programme (CSCP) of the Bureau seeks to ensure that all imported and locally produced goods and services for which there are national compulsory standards meet all the relevant product and labelling specifications in order to be retailed on the local market. The Standards Act (#14) of 1990 mandates the Bureau to provide specific services which include the implementation of COMPULSORY standards.

The Compulsory Standards Compliance Programme (CSCP) implemented by the Compliance department is in accordance with ISO/IEC International Guide for Conformity Assessment and is aligned with the requirements of the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade.

Currently there are twenty three compulsory standards administered by the SLBS. Compliance with the compulsory specifications is a legal requirement for the sale, manufacture and importation of these products. 

Standards Development

The Bureau is responsible for the preparation and promotion of standards in relation to goods, services, processes and practices locally. The Bureau recognizes that standards require genuine public/private partnerships involving producers, governments, consumer groups and regulators. Standards are therefore developed in a wide variety of fields by Technical Committees comprised of experts in each field. The Standards Development Department of the Bureau is responsible for planning, organizing and directing the development of national standards. Justification must be provided for any standards development project.

The standards development process is coordinated by the officers of the Standards Development Department. The departments works closely with various technical committees and other interested parties to develop and execute the standards development work programme.

The standards development work programme of the Bureau focuses on the development, adoption and application of standards that will enhance product or service competitiveness and ultimately the economic development of St. Lucia. These standards may be developed from scratch but such an approach is often costly and time consuming and there is always the very real possibility that the lengthy developmental process will culminate in no more than a re-invention of the wheel.