Bureau of Standards To Launch Certificate Of Sales Programme

Contact: John Emmanuel  

Monday, October 08, 2001 - The St. Lucia Bureau of Standards is getting ready to introduce a Certificate of Sales Programme to assist local enterprises in producing better quality goods and services for the local market. That announcement has come from Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister the Honourable Phillip J. Pierre as the island prepares to join the international community in marking World Standards Day on October 14.  

“This certificate of approval will only be issued for products of consistently good quality. For the consumer, this will give a measure of confidence in the quality and safety of local products, while for producers and manufacturers this means greater competitiveness and market edge which should translate into increased profitability,” Pierre said in an address to mark Standards Week in St. Lucia, October 08 – 14.

Minister Pierre said whereas St. Lucia cannot dictate what happens in the international marketplace, he remains confident that the island can dictate its productivity and competitiveness. He has called upon local businesspersons to take advantage of the many opportunities offered by the new global trade regime.

“St. Lucia does not exist in isolation,” said Pierre. According to him, “we must match the standards and requirements set by the world market. Trade can only be possible if we follow the international trends, technical regulations and other factors that impact on the production of goods and services. We must adhere to the relevant guidelines at all times, so that the consistency of our product is never under question.”

The St. Lucia Bureau of Standards is observing its tenth anniversary of operations. The Bureau has undergone significant strengthening over the past few years and is now better positioned to determine whether the goods and services provided to the community meet minimum safety and quality standards. Future plans, Minister Pierre announced, will include the introduction of a Compulsory Standards Compliance Programme to monitor the quality of goods imported into St. Lucia.

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