Describes the country's standards landscape, identifies the national standards and accreditation bodies, and lists the main national testing organization(s) and conformity assessment bodies.

Overview

Haiti has no special legislation on standards, testing, approval, and certification.  International standards are used as a reference, but have not been officially adopted. The main international standards applied include those of the International Standards Organization (ISO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and Codex Alimentarius for food products. With its accession to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Haiti has adopted the standards established by the Caribbean Organization of Standards and Quality (COSQ), which is the CARICOM body responsible for defining standards for goods and services at the regional level.

The government is drafting a framework law on quality, intended to harmonize and update the current laws on quality control. The technical services and government bodies involved in quality control will be reorganized, strengthened, and/or made operational. 

Standards

Three bodies will guide and coordinate the national quality system: The National Quality Council (CNQ), The Standards Centre (CNS), and The National Commission for Official Quality Control (CNCOQ).  

The National Quality Council (CNQ), composed of public and private sector representatives and civil society, defines national quality policy. A small executive structure assists the CNQ and they will also receive support from technical committees, including a technical committee on accreditation.

The Standards Centre (CNS), a joint autonomous body administered by a management committee, is under the supervision of the CNQ and deals with standardization, training, and issues of quality. One of its main roles is to advise Haitian entrepreneurs.  The Haitian Treasury finances the CNS with technical assistance from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

The National Commission for Official Quality Control (CNCOQ) is an inter-ministerial quality control commission, responsible for coordinating Haiti's quality-related activities. It is composed of government officials from each relevant ministry responsible for quality controls.

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Testing, inspection and certification

The government’s primary goal under the proposed Haitian Standard System is to protect consumers and to monitor the safe sale of food, chemicals, and pharmaceutical products, as well as cosmetics. Special attention will be given to exports to ensure that they have a positive impact abroad and improve the Haitian trade balance.

A fixed standard will be ratified after a consulting process with stakeholders. Accreditation will be accorded to all products that meet the standards set by the government in the forthcoming Presidential Decree on Standards.

Publication of technical regulations

Technical regulations on standards will be attached to a Presidential Decree.

Contact Information

Direction Quality Control
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Ministère du Commerce et de l'Industrie)
Parc Industriel Métropolitain (SONAPI)
Port-au-Prince, Haïti 
Tel: (509) 3724-0520 / 3473-4898
E-mail: dcqpc_mci@yahoo.fr 
(Mrs. Roberta Jean- Baptiste, General Director)
 

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