THE PROCESS OF STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT

The underlying principles for the preparation of standards are:
· that they shall be in accordance with the needs of the country and fulfill a generally recognized want
· that the interests of both producer and consumer shall be considered, and
· that periodic review of the Standard shall be undertaken.

Any organisation or any authoritative body may request that the Bureau establishes a standard for any specific subject or revise an existing Standard by formally submitting such a request to the Director, Antigua and Barbuda Bureau of Standards in writing.

The work of Standardization on any specific subject shall only be undertaken when the Antigua and Barbuda Standards Council (ABSC) is satisfied, as a result of its own deliberations or of an investigation and consultation with producer and consumer interests, that there is a necessity for Standardization. When the subject has been so investigated and the need stablished, the Council shall refer the work to an appropriate Technical Committee or shall appoint a new Committee for the purpose. The Committee shall then explore and study the subject and prepare a draft of the proposed Standard.

A draft Standard, prepared by a Technical Committee or Sub-Committee, shall be issued in draft form for a period to be determined by the Committee, but not less than two months, and widely circulated amongst those likely to be interested, for the purpose of securing critical review and suggestions for improvement, which, if found desirable, shall be incorporated in the draft (Section 17 Standards Act Cap 411). The Technical Committee or sub-Committee will consider the comments received as a result of the drafts issued and prepare a final draft.

On recommendation of a Technical Committee entrusted with the preparation of a draft, the procedure for circulation may be curtailed or dispensed with by the Standards Council in specific parts where the subject matter of the draft Standard is of a non-controversial nature, and where the need for the standard is urgent.

Since each Standard written has the potential of being a regional (CARICOM) Standard, circulation of drafts for comments should be extended to other National Standards bodies within CARICOM. The Standard so finalized by the Technical Committee shall be referred to the Antigua and Barbuda Standards Council for adoption. After the Council approves the tandard it is sent to the Ministry of Legal Affairs for vetting. It is then sent to the Minister of Trade for approval. Upon his approval it is printed and gazetted. Any Standard adopted by a recognized regional (CARICOM) or international (ISO) organisation may, on the recommendation of a competent Technical Committee, be approved by the Council, if the Standard has been developed in consultation with the Bureau and with its approval.

Declaration of a standard as an Antiguan & Barbudan Standard must be done in accordance with the Section 18 (3) of the Standards Act Cap 411. In General standards are subject to periodic review (5yrs) to ensure that they are in harmony with the changing conditions in which they have to be implemented. The review may result in a decision to withdraw, revise or reconfirm the standard.

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