Free Trade Area of the Americas - FTAA |
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FTAA – CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON SMALLER ECONOMIES 1. PROJECT TITLE: Facilitating trade through support to Metrology Services 2. BACKGROUND: Based on a metrology survey conducted from 1996 – 1997, it was discovered that the majority of the weighing and measuring devices used in trade were giving incorrect readings. This problem had arisen due to the fact that over the past several years no maintenance, repairs or calibrations were conducted. An analysis of the situation at that time, revealed that the Police Department which was responsible for the verification of these devices based on the Weights and Measures Ordinance of Grenada (1934) did not have national measurement standards, laboratory facilities and trained personnel to conduct the exercise. As a result, weighing and measuring in the State were not verified for many years. The non-existence of a system for the determination of fair measures for products and services and the general non-appreciation of these critical issues by producers, manufacturers, distributors and small scales commercial operators had conspired to create an atmosphere of general consumer suspicion and discontent. Grenada’s export sector was also suffering greatly. Errors caused in weighing and measuring operations resulted in considerable losses during exports. The nutmeg industry, one of our principal export crop, was losing approximately 1500 lbs per shipment in overweight due to the use of faulty scales. Cocoa and fresh agricultural produce were also experiencing similar problems. In addition, exports of fish from Grenada was rejected in many cases due to spoilage brought about by incorrect temperature readings during storage at local Plants. Water and electricity meters were not verified by an independent body and resulted in numerous consumer complaints regarding high water and electricity bills. The Government of Grenada, taking into consideration these problems, as well as its commitment to free and fair trade, passed the Metrology Act in 1997 with the aim of ensuring that all weighing and measuring equipment used in trade, are verified and calibrated by an independent body, the Grenada Bureau of Standards. However, in order for the Bureau to carry out its functions effectively, it is necessary to establish a hierarchy of national measurement standards having traceability to international standards, and to maintain them in a suitably conditioned laboratory. This is hampered due to: (a) lack of national primary and secondary standards;This project aims to address the above problems and establish a viable national metrology system in Grenada. 3. RATIONALE: Globalization and trade liberalization, with the accompanying increased competition, have focused attention on the importance of quality of production and services in economic development. Quality in turn is determined by measured parameters, hence the importance of Metrology (the science of Measurement) in determining quality. The use of Conformity Assessment Procedures to avoid unnecessary barriers to trade is enshrined in the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to trade to which Grenada is a signatory. Under the Free Trade Area of the Americas, the subject of Metrology Development in all participating countries has assumed great importance in order to avoid the marginalization of developing countries in the trade among the 34 hemispheric countries. The reactivation of the Interamerican Metrology System (SIM) after the 1st Summit of the Americas, is testimony to its importance in the proposed FTAA arrangement. The Government of Grenada is also committed under the Caricom Protocol in Industrial Policy to use standards, technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment Procedures in regional trade. Metrology laboratories are needed to improve access to global markets and integration in the regional, hemispheric and international trade, and to assist in the improvement of consumer health and safety. 4. OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT (a) General To set up and operate a calibration system in Grenada that will ensure that all measurements made in the course of testing weights and measures or industrial measuring equipment are reliable, of known accuracy and traceable to national or international standards. (b) Specific objectives - to set up a laboratory with the requisite metrology equipment; 5. INPUTS
6. EXPECTED RESULTS The successful completion of the project will result in (a) A metrology laboratory of approximately 100 m2 (space to be provided by the Government of Grenada);7. TARGET BENEFICIARIES The project is an institution building project. Its direct beneficiary will be the Grenada Bureau of Standards. However, the more significant benefits would be received by the consumers of Grenada, the export trade and the growing number of industries. Also, scientific organizations in both the Public and Private Sectors will benefit from the services of the metrology laboratory that would be established as an output of the project. 8. PROJECT STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENT The project will be implemented by the Grenada Bureau of Standards. The Director of the Bureau will act as the National Project Co-ordinator. An international expert attached to the project will be responsible for the execution of the technical content of the project. The project strategy will be as follows: ● The Government of Grenada (Grenada Bureau of Standards) will provide approximately 100 m2 of space to house the metrology laboratory. 9. SPECIAL CONSIDERATION This project would make a significant contribution to technical co-operation programmes in the field of Metrology among Caribbean States, particularly among the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). A number of islands in the Eastern Caribbean, namely Dominica, St Vincent, St Lucia, Antigua and St Kitts and Nevis, will be able to utilize the services of the laboratory and the expertise gained by its staff. Annex 1: Estimated cost of metrology equipment
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