... in an effort to make our locally manufactured goods more competitive in terms of quality and price, and in order to assist manufacturers to gain market access in the competitive, sophisticated and demanding world market where quality requirements are continuously being elevated, the St. Kitts and Nevis Standards Bureau was established. The Standards Bureau, which forms a part of the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, became operational in 1999 under the National Standards Act and plays a vital role in our Trade, Industry and Consumer Protection sectors. Under the CARICOM/CDB/OECS Standards Project a Standards Consultant was assigned to our Bureau in March of this year for a period of nine (9) months.
The Bureau not only ensures that the quality of our locally manufactured products meets the specified standards, but it is also involved in testing imported goods in order to ensure that consumers are protected from hazardous products. The Standards Bureau also provides testing services to local manufacturers who do not have their own laboratories, and sets appropriate standards in cases where there are no established standards.
Support for the agricultural diversification as well as other areas of economic development is provided by the Multi-Purpose Laboratory/Bureau of Standards. During the year under review, the Multi-Purpose Laboratory continued its capacity building programme by recruiting trained and experienced staff in the area of microbiology and chemistry in order to conduct testing of locally produced and imported food and water. The Laboratory has also developed the capacity to conduct soil and plant tissue analyses for farmers. As part of its food safety initiative, the Multi-Purpose Laboratory conducted a workshop on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) for local industry and water services.
The National Standards Bureau which was established in 1999, continues to raise the general awareness of the public on the role that standards play in every day life. The Bureau's main responsibilities are to protect the health and safety of consumers, to facilitate trade and compliance with treaty obligations, and to facilitate the development of local industry and commerce.
During the year 2001, draft Standards were prepared for Chicken and Chicken Parts, Labelling of Pre-packaged goods and General Labelling. Further, the CARICOM Standard on Brewery Products is under consideration, and is expected to be adopted as a National Standard early in the new year. Meanwhile, the Standards Council, which administers the affairs of the Standards Bureau, has held discussions on matters related to genetically modified foods; Weights and Measures Verification; imported food products that are banned in other countries, and the importation of hazardous chemicals. It is expected that standards will be introduced shortly to address these matters.
