The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The private sector is hoping the Bahamas’ internationally-recognised standards for packaged water and food hygiene will help local exporters.

Edison Sumner, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation’s (BCCEC) chief executive, said the newly-ratified standards will help Bahamian producers expand and give them more credibility in foreign markets.

Hope Strachan, minister of financial services, who has responsibility for trade and Industry, last week declared three approved national standards.

They are new standards for packaged water; a code of hygiene practice for packaged water; and a code of practice/general principles for food hygiene, which are expected to take effect in July 2016.

Mr Sumner, who also serves as deputy chairman for the Bahamas Bureau of Standards, told Tribune Business: “The fact that this year we are promoting trade in services, and that the Bureau of Standards has already submitted these standards for approval, is a great thing for local exporters.

“They can begin to now try to expand their network and footprint for business around the world and region, and they can show that they have the labels applied to their products, which should give their products more credibility in the marketplace and more access as well.

“They will be able to show that they have been able to meet international standards, and hopefully this is going to increase their opportunities for business expansion and new markets to export their products into.”

Mr Sumner added that Bahamian industries coming under the Bureau of Standards will be subject to a much more formal and structured approach to standards and regulation.

“For other local business persons involved in any aspect of manufacturing, whether it has to do with food agriculture or light manufacturing, by having your product pass the tests of the Standards Bureau and having stamps applied to your product means you are operating at a significantly higher standard,” Mr Sumner said.

“That is going to give your companies significant validation that their products are meeting internationally acceptable standards. That can only boost people’s businesses. Some industries were essentially self-regulated, being able to apply their own stamps or standards approved by those operating in the industry, and now it’s going to be through a much more formal and structured approach.”