The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) in its capacity as the National Accreditation Focal Point (NAFP) is the administrative li nk for promoting the use of the Caribbean Cooperation for Accreditation (CCA) Scheme among Conformity Assessment B odies (CABs) in Guyana . The CCA was developed to provide CABs (inspection, testing and certification bodies) with regional opportunities to ac cess affordable and readily availab le technical assistance on their road to accreditation. This support provided to CABs is based on the principles of mutual cooperation and collaboration amongst participating member states’ NAFPs, the CARICOM Regional Org anisation for Standards and Quality ( CROSQ ) and the National Accreditation Bodies (NABs) . CABs desirous of being accredited can contact the GNBS – NAFP or the CROSQ Secretariat to obtain information on the accreditation process.
In Guyana, the NAFP provides gap analyse s, training an d technical assistance on the ISO/IEC 17 025, ISO 15189, ISO/IEC 17020 and the ISO/IEC 17065 conformity assessment standards to the CABs desirous of obtaining accreditation status. The NAFP also notifies the CAB on the Regional cho ices for accreditation services. T he Jamaica National Agen cy for Accreditation (JANAAC) and the Trinidad and Tobago Laboratory Accreditation Service (TTLABS) are providing such services and a CAB can choose the Accreditation B ody of its choice. The CAB mak es contact with the accreditation body to commence the official application process for accreditation.
The Guyana Rice Development Board’s Central Laboratory and the Eureka Medical Laboratories Inc. have utilized the services of the CCA and have successf ully achieved accreditation status. These laboratories have given good commendation on the services and support received through the NAFP and by extension the staff of the Conformity Assessment Department of the GNBS, the CCA and CROSQ.
It is important to note that these la boratories were first certified to the National Standard, GYS 170, ‘General requirements for the operation of a laboratory’ which accelerated the accreditation process. Recognition must also be given to the CROSQ and its implementing par tners such as the European Union and Physikalisch – Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) Germany for the unwavering support provide d to the GNBS to build its capacity over the years to better provide standardisation services to its stakeholders . The CCA Scheme – P roviding opportunities for affordable Accreditation Services in Guyana ! For further information, please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219 – 0065, 219 – 0066 or visit the GNBS website: www.gnbsgy.or
