Gov’t Analyst labs get key accreditation

The results of tests done by the Government Analyst –Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) will now be internationally recognised, following the recent granting of accreditation status.

The accreditation took effect from May 29th, 2018, a letter from the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC) states.

The Department made the announcement in a press release yesterday and also provided a copy of a letter from JANAAC dated June 5, 2018.

According to the press release the Department has been conferred with the status of “Accreditation” for the four laboratories, namely Food Chemistry Laboratory; Food Microbiology Laboratory; Excise Chemistry Laboratory and Water Chemistry Laboratory. This project, it was stated was facilitated by the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) through the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) programme under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF), with support from the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS).

The four laboratories, are now accredited by the JAANAC according to the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 Standard-General requirements for testing and Calibration laboratories. In its letter to the Department’s Director, Marlan Cole, JANAAC said that the Accreditation Council has approved the recommendation of the Accreditation Evaluation Committee (AEC) to grant the Government Analyst a status of accreditation. JANAAC thanked the Department for its patience and anticipated strengthened relations with respective organisations.

In the press release, the Department explained that accreditation gives the GAFDD laboratories “formal recognition” of its technical competence to perform analytical testing where accurate and reliable results will be provided to meet customer’s needs. ”

Our results are now issued in accordance with the ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 requirements and would be recognized by the international community. This means that exporters of foods …that are subjected to our regulatory oversight can now be assured of additional support /confirmation as a result of our accredited status”, it stated.

The Department used the opportunity to thank all of its staff as well as the Ministry of Public Health for their key, critical and invaluable support throughout the entire process.