Providing quality solutions for your every need

Providing quality solutions for your every need

To be a flexible, fit for purpose organization able to respond quickly to the demands and needs of the national quality infrastructure.

Providing quality solutions for your every need

Providing quality solutions for your every need

To be a flexible, fit for purpose organization able to respond quickly to the demands and needs of the national quality infrastructure.

History

The Barbados National Standards Institution (BNSI) was established in 1973 as a joint venture between the Government of Barbados and the private sector under the Companies Act. It is a non-profit benevolent organisation and consists of administrative offices and a laboratory complex.

Work towards the establishment of BNSI began in 1966 with the decision of the then CARIFTA Council of Ministers that every participating country should establish a Bureau of Standards to protect regional and national consumers in the increasing exchange of goods and services and initiation and extension of industrialization.

A study was therefore done in 1967 on the feasibility of a National Standards Body in Barbados. During the same year, Barbados through the then Economic Planning Unit, became a Correspondent Member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Following another UNIDO Study in 1971, the BNSI formally established de jure in February 1973, as a joint venture between the Government of Barbados and the Private Sector under the Companies Act. It is non-profit and registered “benevolent” organisation.

In 1973, BNSI assumed the membership for Barbados in the ISO. Barbados through BNSI became a full member of ISO in 1999.

In 1984, BNSI became the National Contact Point for Codex Alimentarius matters.

The UNIDO/Government of Barbados projects for the “organisation and administration of the Barbados National Standards Institution 1973 – 1976 and 1978 – 1981” saw the development of the Institution. BNSI occupied premises at Government Headquarters and the old Bay Street Boys’ School before taking possession of accommodation at “Flodden”, Culloden Road in 1975.

The Objectives of the BNSI

The objectives of the BNSI are to facilitate trade and the international competitiveness of Barbadian goods and services, the protection of consumers and the harmonious development of the sectors of the economy, through the development of standards, revision and amendment of these standards from time to time, testing of products for conformity to these standards, certification of products to national standards, accreditation to ensure that those who carry out testing, certification and inspection are competent to do so and calibration of measures (including mass, volume, temperature, length).

Vision

To be an innovative, flexible and effective organisation, able to respond quickly to the demands and needs of the national quality infrastructure, towards the improvement of industrial development, trade competitiveness in global markets, efficient use of natural and human resources, food safety, health, the environment and climate change.

Mission

To facilitate, through standardisation and its related activities, a well-developed national quality infrastructure and promote the international competitiveness of Barbadian stakeholders in all sectors of the economy.

Core Values

  • Integrity
  • Reliability
  • Transparency
  • Trust
  • Flexibility
  • Innovation
  • Professionalism
  • Efficiency
  • Accountability

Board of Directors

  • Ms. Alicia Carter – Chairperson

  • Mr. Glenn Thorpe – Director

  • Ms. Ayodele Murray – Director

  • Mr. Victor Gittens – Director

  • Mr. Rohan Seale – Director

  • Mr. Mark Hill – Director

  • Ms. Shardae Boyce – Director

  • Ms. Vicki Telford – Director

  • Mr. Kristian Payne – Director

  • Ms. Charlene James – Director

  • Permanent Secretary, MIST or Nominee – Director (Ex-Officio)

  • Chief Medical Officer or Nominee – Director (Ex-Officio)

  • Chief Agricultural Officer or Nominee – Director (Ex-Officio)

ACTS & REGULATIONS

Legislation giving legal force to the work of the BNSI includes:

FUNCTIONS

The functions of the BNSI include:

  • Preparing and adopting standards for goods and services of economic interest to Barbados.
  • Facilitating the implementation of standards in Barbados.
  • Promoting standardization, quality management, metrology, conformity assessment, certification in industry and commerce and accreditation.
  • Acting as custodian of the national standards of mass, length, capacity, time, temperature and electrical measurements.

  • Certifying products, commodities, processes, services and quality systems that conform to national standards.

  • Maintaining laboratories for relevant testing and research purposes.
  • Calibrating equipment and measures used in industry and commerce to ensure traceability to international reference standards.