Standards stressed amidst global outcry for safer food
GUYANA will join the international community today to observe ‘World Accreditation Day 2012’ under the theme ‘Accreditation: Supporting safe food and clean drinking water.’ To mark the occasion, Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) hosted a symposium at Regency Suites Hotel, in Hadfield Street, Georgetown, to educate stakeholders on the importance of accreditation.
In an overview of the objectives of the forum, GNBS Head of Conformity Assessment, Ms. Candelle Walcott-Bostwick said this is the third year Guyana is observing the occasion and she emphasised the importance of accreditation to the local manufacturing sector and for export, as well.
“Promoting accreditation in Guyana is an important vision of the GNBS, which is to improve the quality of goods and services by partnering with government, consumers and agencies, through the process of standardisation and conformity assessment,” she explained.
Referring to the timeliness of the theme, Walcott-Bostwick said it is a reminder that there is the need to put preventative measures in place to ensure that the business sector remains vibrant and competitive.
“It is the hope that, at the end of the symposium, all stakeholders will acknowledge the need to shift gear from the usual talking, and take actions to change operations to ensure that the products and services Guyana offers are competitive,” she asserted.
Also in attendance at the event, Senior Advisor, Sustainable Development and Environmental Health for Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), Mr. Adrianus Vlugman attributed the main causes of death of young children around the world to diarrhoeal diseases and urged that prominence be placed on implementing strict food safety measures.
He said PAHO/WHO is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) to make sure that strict measures are implemented in terms of surveillance of safe water and food.
Independent evaluation
Delivering the feature address, Chairman of the International Laboratory Accreditation (ILAC), Mr. Peter Unger emphasised on the role of accreditation, which is the independent evaluation of conformity assessment bodies against recognised standards to carry out specific activities, to assure their integrity, impartiality and competence.
Through the application of national and international standards governments, procurers and consumers can, therefore, have confidence in the calibration and test results, inspection, reports and certifications provided.
He said accredited bodies are established in many countries with the primary purpose of ensuring that conformity assessment bodies are subject to oversight by an authoritative body.
Unger informed that the arrangements in the area of laboratory and inspection accreditation are managed by ILAC and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) in the fields of management systems, products, services and personnel. Both organisations work together and coordinate their efforts to enhance accreditation and conformity assessment worldwide.
GWI Scientific Services Manager, Ms. Donna Canterbury told the gathering that the utility is looking to increase potable water supply to 75 percent as, presently, only 49 percent of consumers are receiving treated flow.
She clarified that untreated water should not be taken as unsafe since the GWI monitors and conforms to WHO standards in the untreated water areas and wells and pump stations are also being monitored.
Director of the Government Analyst, Food and Drugs Department, Ms. Marilyn Collins, who also spoke, alluded to the global outcry for safer foods and water and said it is increasing daily.
Many illnesses
She said she believes that many illnesses and deaths are preventable and debilitating effects can be reduced through safe food and water and food security.
“All countries need adequate food safety programmes and Guyana no less, to ensure that the populace has the appropriate level of protection, based on food safety objective and provides the basis for implementation of risk based measures that identify and control hazards in food and food processing operations,” Collins asserted.
She added that collaboration and cooperation is necessary for all social partners in the food chain, as the consequences of food borne illnesses could involve a number of players across the chain, with adverse impact on trade, tourism, loss of earnings and productivity.
World Accreditation Day, a global initiative jointly inaugurated by the ILAC and IAF, aims to raise global awareness regarding accreditation-related activities.