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Press Release

Release Date: 02/05/13

St. Lucia Joins IEC Affiliate Country Programme

Saint Lucia can now participate in the technical work of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), which is the global organization that prepares and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies. The acceptance last month of the St. Lucia Bureau of Standards into the IEC’s Affiliate Country Programme makes this development possible.

The IEC Affiliate Country Programme is aimed at all newly-industrializing countries like St. Lucia and offers participation in the organization, without the financial burden of membership. The objectives of the programme are to encourage greater awareness and use of IEC International Standards, while promoting understanding and participation in the work of the Commission. 

Under the agreement signed by Dr. Alison Plummer, Director of the Bureau and Mr. Ahron Amit IEC General Secretary, the Bureau will be afforded observer status at IEC general and council meetings, access to all IEC technical documents in electronic format and an opportunity to participate in IEC’s three conformity assessment schemes. In addition the Bureau will receive a selection of 200 free international standards and publications developed by the IEC tailored to meet the needs of the domestic industry. 

The IEC which includes the world’s major trading nations and a growing number of industrializing countries provides a global forum for the preparation and implementation of consensus-based voluntary international standards, facilitating international trade in its field and helping to meet expectations for an improved quality of life.