Standards (Accreditation of Laboratories and Testing Facilities) Regulations

Standards [CAP.295 CHAPTER295 STANDARDS (ACCREDITATION OF LABORATORIES AND TESTING FACILITIES} REGULATIONS ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS 1. Short title. 2. Interpretation. 3. Establishmentofcommitteetosupervisetheaccreditationoflaboratories. 4. Applications for accreditation by laboratories. 5. Minimum standards for accredited laboratories. 6. Certificate of Accreditation. 7. Accreditation without submitting an application. 8. Inspection of accredited laboratories by Committee. 9. Notice of designation or revocation. 10. Laboratories operated by the Bureau. 11. Pubfo.:aliun ufli:st uf a1.:1.:n:Jit1;;J laburaturit::s, t:l\.: .. 12. Advertisement by accredited laboratories. 13. Offences and penalty. 14. Commencement. SCHEDULE 11 THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE [ Printed by the Government Printer,] No. 1 Power Lane, REVISED EDITION 2003 Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. 12 CAP.295! Standards 42ofl 997. 120 ofl997. Act 4 of! 992. Short title. Interpretation. CAP.295. CAP.295. CAP.295. 1. 2. CHAPTER295 STANDARDS (ACCREDITATION OF LABORATORIES AND TESTING FACILITIES} REGULATIONS (Sections 6, 14 and 17) [10th May, 1997.} These Regulations may be cited as the STANDARDS (ACCREDITATION OF LABORATORIES AND TESTING FACILITIES) REGULATIONS. (1) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires: "Act'' means the Standards Act; "acc1cdited lab01at01y" mean:s a lab01at01y which :sati:sfie:s the 1cquitcmcnt:s of Regulation 5 & 7 and which holds a valid Certificate of Accreditation, and includes the laboratories operated by the Bureau; "Bureau" means the Belize Bureau of Standards established under section 3 of the Act; "Director" means the Director of Standards appointed under section 4 of the Act; "laboratory" means an undertaking engaged in tests, investigations, orresearch, whether or not for reward, and using recognized test methods, which is managed, directed, or operated by persons qualified and trained in science, engineering or technology; THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE [ Printed by the Government Printer1] No. 1 Power Lane, REVISED EDITION 2003 Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. Standards [CAP.295 "recognized test" means a method oftest that is: (a) included in, or referred to in, a specification or standard; (b) published by the Bureau, or by an organization recognized by the Bureau as competent in fo1mulating reliable test methods; (c) recognized by the Bureau as applicable to any specified goods or class of goods, services, process, practice, or to the environment; ''testing facilities" includes the equipment and trained persons necessary to carry out a recognized test. (2) A word or a phrase not specifically defined in these Regulations but defined in the Act shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Act. 3. (I) For !he purposes of <.:omlu<.:ting lt:sl8, analysis an<h:xaminatioru; under the Act, the Bureau may appoint a Co1mnittee consisting of the Director and other persons qualified by reason of their training, skill and experience to assist in the accreditation oflaboratories and testing facilities. (2) The Committee may formulate criteria and guidelines for the accreditation oflaboratories, taking account of criteria and guidelines for such accreditation issued by international or regional bodies concerned with the subject. 4. (I) Application for the accreditation of a laboratory or testing facility shall be made to the Bureau in writing and shall include ( a) details of the scientific, engineering and technological apparatus which the laboratory or 13 Esiablishmem of Committee to supervise the accreditation of laboratories. Applications for accreditation by laboratories. THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE [ Printed by the Government Printer,] No. 1 Power Lane, REVISED EDITION 2003 Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. 14 CAP.295! Standards testing facility is equipped with and of the arrangements for their proper maintenance and repair; (b) the names, training, qualifications and experience uf pt:tt:iUllt:i whu wuuld t;ig1111;:puilt; uf 11;;1;;ug11i.lt:U tests, and specimens of those persons signatures; (c) a statement of the goods, services, processes or practices which the laboratory or testing facility is competent and willing to investigate; and (d) such other information as may be relevant or which the Bureau may require. (2) In the case of a laboratory or testing facility in Belize, the application shall be accompanied by an undertaking from the applicant (a) to allow the staff of the Bureau, and the Committee e:stabli:shed undei Regulation 3 above inspect the laboratory or testing facility, its apparatus and equipment and interview persons performing recognized tests; and (b) to maintain the apparatus and equipment in a state of good repair including calibration as the Bureau may from time to time require. (3) In the case oflaboratory or testing facility elsewhere than in Belize the application shall be accompanied by a certificate issued by a competent authority or person, acceptable to the Bureau, that the statements in the application are true and that the laboratory or testing facility is recognized or accredited in its own countty for testing such goods, services, processes or practices by such recognized tests as arc specified in the certificate. THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE [ Printed by the Government Printer1] No. 1 Power Lane, REVISED EDITION 2003 Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. Standards [CAP.295 15 ( 4) An application for the accreditation of a laboratory or testing 120 of 1997 facility shall be in the form set out as Form I to the Schedule hereto. Form I. 5. A laboratory or testing facility accredited by the Bureau for the pmpose Minimum of the Act, shall - standards for (a) be equipped to carry out recognized tests; (h) he staffed hy trained, competent and experienced persons with training to undertake the recognized tests; (c) be maintained and kept in good repair and its equipment calibrated as the Bureau may require; ( d) maintain records of recognized tests carried out by it; and (e) comply with any criteria and guidelines formulated by the Comminee set up under Regulations 3 above that relate to the management, quality system, security, storage of samples, or other features related to the reliability of the laboratory. accredited laboratories. 6. ( 1) After such investigations or inspections as may be necessary, Certificate of the Committee shall consider the application, and when satisfied that the Accreditation. laboratory complies with the requirements of Regulation 5, including compliance with relevant criteria and guidelines formulated by the Committee, the Committee shall report to the Standards Advisory Council, recommending that a Certificate of Accreditation be issued, on such terms and conditions as may appear necessary. (2) A Ceiiificate of Accreditation shall be signed by the Chainnan of the Standards Advisory Council and the Director. THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE [ Printed by the Government Printer,] No. 1 Power Lane, Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. REVISED EDITION 2003 16 Accreditation ...vithout Embmitting an application. CAP.295! Standards (3) A Certificate of Accreditation may be revoked if, upon inspection, it appears to the Bureau or the Committee that the requirements of Regulations 5 are not being complied with. 7. ( 1) The Bureau may accredit a laboratory or testing facility for th 1: pui pu~t:~ uftht: Ad, w ithuut appli1:atiu11 u1:i11g mmk, iu au y 1:a~1: w h1:11: the laboratory or testing facility is (a) a department of Government or of a Statutory Authority or is otherwise in receipt of public funds; (b) an educational or research institution competent to carry out recognized tests or specializing investigations involving such tests and in receipt of public funds; (c) owned, operated, designated, certified or accredited as competent by an organization outside Belize, which is charged with the foimulation, application and enfrncement of specifications and standards. Where such accreditation is given by the Standards Advisory Council on the basis of accreditation or certification by a body outside Belize, continuation or revocation of accreditation will be considered on information supplied to the Bureau by the foreign accreditation or certification body. (2) In the case of a laboratory or testing facility accredited under this Regulation, the Bureau may direct that the holder of a specified post, who is qualified by training and experience, shall sign reports of recognized tests for use in Belize. THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE [ Printed by the Government Printer1] No. 1 Power Lane, REVISED EDITION 2003 Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. Standards [CAP.295 8. The committee established under Regulation 3 above may inspect, or cause to be inspected, any accredited laboratory or testing facility from time to time, but not less often than once in two years, and may require additional information to be provided to ensure that the requirements of Regulation 5 are met 9. (1) Notice of the designation of a laboratory or testing facility as an accredited laboratory or testing facility and notification of every revocation thereof shall be published by the Bureau in the Gazette and in a newspaper in circulation in Belize. (2) A notice of the designation of a laboratory or testing facility shall be in the form set out as Form II of the Schedule hereto. 10. ( 1) The laboratories and testing facilities operated by the Bureau may be inspected from time to time, by the Committee established under Regulation 3, for compliance with Regulation 5. (2) The reports of recognized tests issued by the Bureau's labontlorit:s or lt:sting fadlilit:s, and signt:<l by ont: or mort: pcrsons crnployt:<l by the Bureau and auth01ized to sign such reports, shall be prima fade evidence of the statements contained in the reports. (3) The Bureau shall publish from time to time the names of its employees authorized to sign reports of recognized tests. 11. The Bureau shall publish in July of each year a notice in the Gazette containing a list of accredited laboratories and testing facilities, and the names of persons who may sign reports of recognized tests for the purposes of the Act 12. It shall be lawful for an accredited laboratory or testing facility to refer to the fact that it is accredited, whenever making any advertisement or publicity. Such reference shall be in accordance with guidelines which may set by the 17 Inspection of accredited laboratories by Committee. Notice of designation or revocation. 120 of! 997. Form IL Laboratories operated by the Bureau. Publication of list of accredited laboratories, etc. Advertisements by accredited laboratories. THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE [ Printed by the Government Printer,] No. 1 Power Lane, REVISED EDITION 2003 Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. 18 Offences and penalty. Connnencement. CAP.295! Standards Bureau from time to time. 13. (1) Any person who represents a laboratory, testing facility, or person as accredited under these Regulations when such laboratory, testing facility or person does not have Accreditation Certificate, commits an offence. (2) Any person who issues a report of a recognized test which is not signed by an authorized person as provided herein commits an offence. (3) Any person who commits an offence against these Regulations shall be liable, on summary conviction, to pay a fine of three hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a period of three months or to both such fine and period of imprisonment. 14. These Regulations shall come into force on the 22nd day of April, 1997. 1997. MADE by the Minister ofTrade and Industry this 22nd day of April, (SALV ADORFERNANDEZ) Minister of Trade and Industry Minister Responsible for Standards THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE [ Printed by the Government Printer1] No. 1 Power Lane, REVISED EDITION 2003 Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. Standards SCHEDULE FORMI [Regulation 4] [CAP.295 APPLICATION FOR THE ACCREDITATION OF A LABORATORYffESTING FACILITY TO: The Director, Belize Bureau of Standards Sir/Madam I/WE ................................................. on behalf of the organization known under the name of ................................................................. hereby make application for accreditation as a laboratory/testing facility for analysis/ testing of commodities under the Standards Act for the following commodities and hereby furnish the pa1ticulars specified in Pait II of this application. On behalf of the above-mentioned organization, I/We hereby undertake to cairy out all analysis/testing in accordance with the Standards Act and Regulations made thereunder and any lawful directions given by the Belize Bureau of Standards in that behalf. Yours faithfully, Signature and Stamp of the Applicant 19 THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE [ Printed by the Government Printer,] No. 1 Power Lane, REVISED EDITION 2003 Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. 20 CAP.295! Standards PARTII Names of officers of the organisation and their Positions and Extent of Interest. 1. * Name(s) ....................................................................................... . Position and Extent oflnterest ........................................................ . 2. * Place( s) where laboratory(ies )/test house( s) within Belize is (are) located ........................................................................................ . 3. * Details of testing staff of laboratory/test house indicating names, qualification, specialization and experience. 4. * Details/account of each laboratory as follows: (a) Names and description of scientific, engineering and technological apparatus available and arrangement for their maintenance and 1epai1, (b) Natncs, training, qualifications and experience of persons who should sign reports of recognized tests; and (c) Goods, services, process or practices which the laboratory's testing facility is competent and willing to investigate, as per relevant standard specification. 5. * Previous experience in the field, if any. 6. * Names of commodities analysed/tested. 7. * How long employed in the business of analysis/testing? 8. * Whether any of the test reports were rejected by buyers? If so give details. 9. * Rcforcnccs, if any. (Herc give the names of up to three) THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE [ Printed by the Government Printer1] No. 1 Power Lane, REVISED EDITION 2003 Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. Standards [CAP.295 1 0. * Established export and up to three foreign import houses that you may wish to use as references forreputation ofbusiness. NOTES: • 1·Provide answers on a separate sheet, if necessary. 21 THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE [ Printed by the Government Printer,] No. 1 Power Lane, REVISED EDITION 2003 Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. 22 CAP.295! Standards SCHEDULE [Regulation 9] FORMII NOTIFICATION OF ACCREDITATION OF LABORATORYfIESTING FACILITIES Notice is hereby given by the Belize Bureau of Standards under Regulation 9 of the Standards (Accreditation of Laboratories and Testing Facilities) Regulation, that the laboratory/testing facility of .......................................... . situated at ................................................................................................. . has been accredited by the Belize Bureau of Standards as a Testing Laboratory/ testing facility for the following products as per the following standards. Products Reference Belizean Standards Signed: Chairman, Belize Standards Advisory Council Signed: THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE Director, Belize Bureau of Standards [ Printed by the Government Printer1] No. 1 Power Lane, Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. REVISED EDITION 2003 Standards [CAP.295 FORMII NOTICE OF REVOCATION OF EQUIPMENT/LABORATORY ACCREDITATION Notice is hereby given by the Belize Bureau of Standards, that the accreditation issued to ............................................................................... .. Laboratory/resting Facility for the purposes of the Standards (Accreditation of Laboratories and Testing Facilities) Regulations, has been revoked. Dated: Signed: Director, Belize Bm·eau of Standards 23 THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE [ Printed by the Government Printer,] No. 1 Power Lane, REVISED EDITION 2003 Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize.