Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 8, 2023 (SKNBS): The St. Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards and Multipurpose Laboratory has achieved another milestone by being the first laboratory in the Federation to apply for accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025.
The laboratory submitted its application in April 2023 to the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANNAC), an internationally recognised accreditation body. The submitted documents have already been reviewed and a JANNAC audit team is expected shortly to conduct a formal audit of the facilities before awarding accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 in air quality.
The SKNBS recognises the importance of accreditation not only for its impact on trade but also on the credibility and reliability of our conformity assessment systems. This is precisely why SKNBS has pursued accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025.
ISO/IEC 17025 is one of the most internationally recognised standards for testing and calibration laboratories and this standard is regarded as the gold standard for such laboratories. Additionally, accreditation status to such an esteemed standard demonstrates that SKNBS has the technical competence to consistently generate valid and reliable results, thereby promoting confidence in our work nationally and internationally.
International recognition and confidence mean that SKNBS generated test reports and certificates will be accepted globally as credible, removing the need for further testing, which improves international trade. This is a significant boon for our local businesses as our international partners will know that results coming from St. Kitts and Nevis can be trusted because they are valid and come from a laboratory that has been accredited to an internationally recognised and accepted standard. This can translate to the removal of technical barriers to trade, which can increase economic growth.
Because the standard also sets out the principles for quality assurance and a seamlessly integrated management system, SKNBS clients can be assured that our processes are well-documented, effective, and efficient, thus reducing the risk of error and waste while improving our productivity.
Further, being awarded accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 also means that SKNBS, as the national competent body, will be able to offer accreditation support to all other testing laboratories within the Federation, whether private or public, by 2024.
SKNBS is a customer-focused organisation with the objective of continuously achieving customer satisfaction by promoting confidence in our work. Therefore, our anticipated accreditation further demonstrates our commitment to quality and excellent customer service.
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