CEO Of JANAAC Encourages More Entities To Get Accredited

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC), Sharonmae Shirley, is encouraging more entities to become accredited to international standards.

“If you are a manufacturer, exporter, service provider or own and operate testing laboratories, accreditation is important because quality is necessary for economic development and will distinguish your product and service as being one globally accepted,” Mrs. Shirley told JIS News.

Accreditation is the independent, third-party evaluation of a conformity assessment body against recognised standards, conveying formal demonstration of its impartiality and competence to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks.

“Accreditation is integral to Jamaica’s food safety, trade, consumer protection and healthcare through assuring confidence,” Mrs. Shirley said.

The CEO noted that through its accreditation services, JANAAC supports the building of a robust quality infrastructure for the production, research and development, export and import of products.

“JANAAC is the only internationally recognised accreditation body in the English-speaking Caribbean that is a signatory to the ILAC MRA and the IAAC MLA for ISO/IEC 17025 (testing laboratories) and ISO 15189 (medical testing),” Mrs. Shirley said.

“Accreditation may seem daunting, but our team of experts provide assistance and detailed guidelines every step of the way. We have had clients receive accreditation in as short as five months of starting the process,” she noted.

Mrs. Shirley said that JANAAC wants to see businesses grow and fuel the development of Jamaica by expanding their market reach through assured quality services and products.

“JANAAC’s impartial and internationally recognised accreditation services open the gateway for accredited clients to operate in the global market space,” she noted.

For more information on accreditation, persons may visit the JANAAC website www.janaac.gov.jm or contact (876) 968-7790.

Source: JIS