Separation of Bureau of Standards regulatory functions timely – Samuda

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, speaking at the launch of a rebranded Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) and its newly-renovated Energy Efficiency and Mass & Dimensional laboratories, held at the BSJ’s Winchester Road offices, Kingston on Wednesday, October 11, 2017. Seated from left are Acting Country Manager (Jamaica), World Bank, Karlene Francis and Chairman, Standards Council, BSJ, James Rawle.

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, says that the time has come for the separation of the regulatory functions of the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ).
According to the Minister, the separation of the regulations and the setting of the standards were imminent, as Jamaica is one of the few countries having the standards/regulations under one roof, and driven by the same organisation.

Minister Samuda was speaking at the launch of the rebranded Bureau of Standards Jamaica and its refurbished Energy Efficiency and Mass and Dimensional laboratories at the Bureau’s Winchester Road offices on Wednesday, October 11.

He informed that the separation was recently passed through Cabinet and the appropriate steps will be taken for it to become effective.

“I would not say that this will be an irreparable divorce. What I want to see is a structure that will see continuous romancing taking place, but with distinct differences. What we are pushing hard for is the reduction of bureaucracy in the system, as it robs us of our opportunity to be able to compete effectively,” the Minister said.

He further noted that the transition between a single entity dealing with both aspects of ensuring application of standards and the checking of the compliance process is not that easy.

“It would be unfair for me to come here and praise the smoothness of the transition process. It still has its problems and the problem is rooted in the fact that there isn’t a clear understanding in the minds of those who are most critical to the process, the workers, as to where one’s authority begins and ends. I hope this will be made clear over the next few weeks, because there has to be a functioning of separation that will strengthen the entire process. This is not designed to create any area within the process that is on the basis of priorities or preferences. It is just simply complying with one of the conditionalities that the World Bank and other international agencies are insisting on,” Samuda added.

It is envisioned that the rebranded BSJ, with its regulatory responsibilities removed, would aid in creating a competitive business environment, facilitating trade and the development of industries.

The rebranding project was funded by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)/the World Bank.

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