Local businesses must aspire to get standard mark says commerce minister

Tuesday, April 6, 2010 – Saint Lucia’s minister for commerce, industry and consumer affairs is urging the local business community to align its services with international food safety and operations standards.

Senator the Honourable Tessa Mangal says her ministry stands ready to assist the Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards in carrying out its mandate to protect public health on the island.

Minister Mangal insists that business owners must see the relevance of submitting their products to the product certification programme through which the licence to carry the standard mark is issued.

“The Saint Lucia Standard Mark offers product differentiation and assures the consumer that the product is manufactured under a well-defined scheme of testing and inspection; this increases consumer confidence that the product meets the relevant specifications and is of consistent quality.”

Minister Mangal says the time is ripe for local manufacturers to employ initiatives which lay the foundation for a more globally competitive and productive sector. By so doing, she explains, consumer safety, satisfaction, and the economic viability of the local manufacturing sector will be secured.

“Saint Lucians must become more inclined towards adopting a position that will drive them to strictly purchase and consume goods and services of acceptable quality and standard. We must not only expect quality goods from our producers, importers, and service providers but we must demand it from them to secure our health, safety and well-being. I recommend strongly that local manufactures go for the standard mark as the first step in the production of quality and safe goods for wider recognition, consumer acceptability and longevity of your own business.”

Last week, AMK Incorporated, manufacturer of People’s Choice Natural Pure Water, joined the small family of local businesses which have attained the local seal of quality—the Saint Lucia Standard Mark.

[ Home ] [ Up ] [Site Help]

Read our privacy guidelines.