National Accreditation Focal Point

Background

The CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) was established in 2002 to facilitate the establishment and  harmonization of standards for  the  enhanced efficiency  and  improved quality in the production of goods and services  within CARICOM.

In order  for CROSQ to execute  its mandate to achieve  Regional Accreditation, each National Standards Body was nominated as a National Accreditation  Focal Point  (NAFP) to  implement   the  activities  supporting  accreditation in  their respective  countries. NAFPs were established and are recognised  as the agents for Accreditation in most countries within CARICOM.

Responsibilities of the NAFP

In order for the NAFP to ensure that CROSQ achieves its mandate for Regional Accreditation Cooperation, each NAFP shall have the following responsibilities:

• Assist with capacity building in its respective country for the Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) (inspection, testing and certification bodies) seeking accreditation.
• Promote  Accreditation  and the Caribbean  Cooperation for Accreditation  (CCA) scheme and symbol within its country.
  

  GNBS as the NAFP can provide support to businesses for them to achieve Accreditation.

• Be an information and resource centre  within its country for the accreditation of CABs and businesses.
• Interface  between  the CABs and CROSQ and between CABs and NABs for the CCA Scheme.
• Assist CABs working towards Accreditation.
• Assist in the coordination of Proficiency Testing  (PT) and Inter- Comparison  programmes.
• Identify individuals  and national  expertise  for the CCA Scheme.
• Assist in maintaining the Regional Accreditation Database.
• Register the CCA symbol and promote the use of the symbol
• Participate in Training programmes, seminars, workshops, meetings offered by the CCA scheme.
• Be informed on current accreditation activities.
• Prepare annual work programmes and budget by December of the preceding for submission to CROSQ.
• Provide half year status reports to CROSQ for monitoring and evaluation purposes.
• Receive complaints regarding activities related to the Accreditation Bodies and their accredited bodies;
• Arrange appropriate  training programmes for laboratory staff, potential assessors and auditors;
• Ensure that eligibility criteria are being properly met for the beneficiaries of the CCA activities
• Review and disseminate the documentation provided by the international and regional organisations concerned with accreditation, such   as the Inter American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC), the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).
• Work with the National Standards Bureau to coordinate in-country activities such as training and seminars.
• Identify Project risks and propose alternatives when these are detected;

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The Benefits of the NAFP to the country 

• Facilitates the establishment of a recognized conformity assessment infrastructure in Guyana to facilitate trade
• Provides technical assistance to conformity assessment bodies in the form of training and consultancy services
• Provides updated information on accreditation and accreditation related matters at the national level.
• Provides the administrative links between the NAFP and Accreditation bodies nationally, regionally and internationally.

For more information on NAFP and related documents check documents listed below.

• How does Accredited Certification benefit Regulators
• 10th EDF -TBT Success Magazine
• The Caribbean Cooperation for Accreditation Achievements
• ISO/IEC 17020 Stepwise Improvement Programme (SIP)
• The Caribbean Cooperation for Accreditation FAQs
• Brochure on the Internation Accredited Forum
• The IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA)
• The IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) Annual Report
• Why use an accredited certification body ?
• How do I gain confidence in an Inspection Body ?
• World Accreditation Day Brochure
• To download factsheet in Adobe Acrobat Format click HERE

For further information contact the
Guyana National Bureau of Standards
Flat 15, Sophia Exhibition Complex, Georgetown, Guyana
Tel Nos.: 219-0062; 219-0064; 219-0065.
Fax No. 219-0070
E-mail: info@gnbsgy.org
Website: www.gnbsgy.org