G/TBT/GEN/321  
 
17 January 2022  
(22-0357) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
 
CROSQ UPDATE TO THE TBT COMMITTEE  
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE CARICOM REGIONAL ORGANIZATION  
FOR STANDARDS AND QUALITY (CROSQ)  
This document contains information provided by CROSQ  at the TBT Committee meeting of  
10-12 November 2021 under Agenda Item 4 (Update by Observers).  
 
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1.  The CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) has a mandate to 
establish and harmonize standards and conformity assess ment activities for the enhanced efficiency 
and improved quality in the production of goods and services in the Caribbean Community 
(CARICOM)1. By so doing it is hoped to empower the Community to meet the requirements of 
international markets for goods an d services as well as secure the quality, health and safety of 
products produced and or used in the region.  
2.  By mandate, CROSQ is also the regional centre for promoting efficiency and competitive 
production in goods and services, using standards, technical  regulations, metrology and accredited 
conformity assessment procedures. In this regard, CROSQ supports international competitiveness 
of the region 's products and services for the enhancement of social and economic development of 
the region.  
3.  It is recogni zed that;  
a. The differences in the regulatory requirements by which standards are made mandatory 
in individual CARICOM Member States and others, is among the issues that may have the 
greatest impact on regional trade let alone international trade.  
b. Where re gulations are poorly designed or overly complicated it can impose excessive costs 
and inhibit the economic sector it is trying to regulate.  
c. Within CARICOM, the various institutions are not always harmonised on the process and 
the protocols required to comply with the World Trade Organisation 's (WTO) Technical 
Barriers to Trade (TBT) requirements as it relates to Good Regulatory Practices (GRPs).  
4.  With these in mind, CROSQ with the support of a project under the TRADECOM II PROGRAMME 
funded b y the European Union through the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of 
States (OACP) Secretariat 's trade development programme, and with the help of a consortium 
organization (AESA Consulting) has finalized (1) a Caribbean Regional Guide on Good Regulatory 
Practice (GRP) and Model National Code of Practice (COP) and (2) an accompanying training GRP 
Workbook. These documents are now finalized and the electronic version of the Regional GRP  and 
the GRP Workbook  are available on the CROSQ website and can be of particular valu e to developing 
countries.  
 
1 CARICOM Members - Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, 
Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, 
and Trinidad and Tobago. Associate Membership of the Org anisation is also available to the Associate Members 
of the Community as well as to other States and political entities of the Association of Caribbean States.   G/TBT/GEN/321  
 
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  5.  It is expected that these publications will enhance compliance with the WTO TBT requirements 
as well as the European Union – CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement objectives. We are 
willing to make a presentation on this deve loping world model of good regulatory practice to the TBT 
Committee on invite.  
 
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