Sunday 5th February 2012
Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards
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Product Certification
Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards Product Certification Programme
The Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards (SLBS) is the only institution on island that operates a product certification scheme providing 3rd party verification for products and services for which national standards specifications exist. This National Certification Programme is executed under the Standards Act No. 14 of 1990 and accompanying Regulations, No. 10 of 2000. The scheme is coordinated and managed by the Certification Department of SLBS. The programme is NOT accredited but is conducted in a accordance with the requirements of ISO Guide 28 – Conformity Assessment – Guidance on a third party certification system for products and ISO Guide 65 – General requirements for bodies operating product certification systems. There are NO accreditation agencies in Saint Lucia.
Currently, there are two aspects to the product certification programme:
(a) The certification of goods – for which a mark of conformity (the Saint Lucia Standard Mark) is issued
(b) The certification of services – specifically a tourism accommodation certification programme referred to as the Tourism Registration Programme (TRP).
Participation in the SLBS Product Certification Programme is on a voluntary basis. The programme does not relieve the participants from requirements contained in relevant legislation or regulations.
The policies and procedures for SLBS Product Certification and the referenced standards are intended to improve the marketability of Saint Lucian products, as well as increase consumer confidence in these products.
Use of the Standard Mark
Criteria for Certification under the Product Certification - Use of the Standard Mark Programme are as follows:
(a)Evidence of the conformance of the product to the specifications outlined in by the relevant Saint Lucia National Standard (s)
(b)Evidence of a Quality Management System in place
(c)Adherence to the Terms and Conditions for Certification and the Service Agreement
This programme includes a formal process involving sample testing, plant and system assessment, testing of samples from the plant and from the market and follow up surveillance. Following the successful certification, a license to carry the St. Lucia Standards Mark is granted by SLBS to the manufacturer of the product.
St. Lucia Standards' Mark
The fee schedule for the programme is presented below.
Fee Schedule
Application fee (50% refundable for unsuccessful applicants) EC $50
Application fee for renewal of Licence EC $30
Initial Assessment fee 20% of the Annual Licence Fee
Inspection Charges EC $50/ hour
Testing Charges for independent testing variable
Annual Licence Fee
Micro-Enterprise (Less than 5 persons employed; annual turnover not exceeding $ 100,000 ; net assets not exceeding $75,000) EC$ 100.00
Small-Enterprise (5 to 50 persons employed; annual turnover does not exceed $1,000,000; net assets not exceeding $500,000) EC$ 250.00
Medium-Enterprise (51 to 250 persons employed; annual turnover between $1,000,000 to $8,000,000; net assets between $500,000 to $ 2,500,000)
EC$ 1000.00
Large-Enterprise (More than 250 persons employed; annual turnover exceeds $8,000,000; net assets exceed $ 2,500,000) EC$ 5000.00
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