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Standards Act No. 24 of 2017.

Country/Territory
Antigua and Barbuda
Document type
Legislation
Date
2017
Source
FAO, FAOLEX
Long title
An Act to provide for the preparation, promotion, implementation and maintenance of standards and of technical regulations and conformity assessment related to quality infrastructure activities in relation to goods, services, processes and practices; to preserve and continue the Bureau of Standards, its powers and functions and for other incidental matters.
Subject
Food & nutrition
Keyword
Food quality control/food safety Agricultural commodities Business/industry/corporations Certification Consumer protection Enforcement/compliance Fish products Processing/handling Inspection Institution Internal trade International trade Packaging/labelling Offences/penalties Precautionary principle Public health Risk assessment/management Standards Fraud/deceit/adulteration
Geographical area
Americas, Caribbean, Latin America and the Caribbean, LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN FAO, North Atlantic, Small Island Developing States
Entry into force notes
This Act shall enter into force on a date to be notified by the Minister by Order published in the Gazette.
Abstract

This Act sets forth provisions on the structure and functioning of the Antigua and Barbuda Bureau of Standards and the Standards Council; procedures and principles for licensing to use the Standards Mark; formulate, develop, adopt, declaration, and publication of standards to be an Antigua and Barbuda Standard by the Bureau; the conformity with the CARICOM Standards Mark; labelling of goods; inspection of imported goods; testing or inspection of goods; prohibition of production, sale or export of deficient goods; duties and authorities of the inspectors; procedures and principles to issue certificate of conformity by the Bureau; and offences and penalties. The Antigua and Barbuda Bureau of Standards shall continue its functions for the purposes of facilitating trade, including industrial efficiency and development, and promoting public and industrial welfare, health and safety and for safeguarding the environment. The Bureau shall promote the adoption and implementation of standards relating to production and trade in services, the manufacture or trade of goods, materials, processes, practices, operations and other matters, at the national and international level. Moreover, the Bureau is the national quality certifying body and thereby shall provide for the inspection, testing and certification of goods, services, processes and practices and certify goods, services, processes and practices in compliance with the relevant national, regional and international standards, guides and other requirements. The general administration of the affairs of the Bureau, including the approval of standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures, shall be carried out by the Standards Council. The Council consists of fifteen members including experts in the fields of food, chemistry, consumer protection, public health, fisheries, environment and tourism. The Minister may, by Order, declare and publish technical regulations in the Gazette and on the website, intended primarily to protect consumers or users against danger to health or safety; prevent fraud, misrepresentation or deception arising from misleading advertising or labelling; require adequate information to be given to the consumer or user; ensure acceptable quality in goods; protect the environment; and protect public or industrial health, welfare or safety. The National Quality Infrastructure shall be instituted to establish, administer and operate schemes of standardization and certification of goods and services through assessment of quality systems and certification of the systems assessed. Finally, this Act lays down penalties for the offences such as selling, manufacturing goods, etc. not in conformity with technical regulations; unlawful use of the word “Standard” or “Standards”; unlawful use of labels and Standard Mark; false representation; unlawful obliteration of stamp and mark; attempt to defraud; and tampering with seized articles. The Minister may make regulations generally for giving effect to the purposes of this Act.

Full text
English
Website
www.laws.gov.ag

References - Legislation

Repeals

Standards Act (Act No. 3 of 1987).

Legislation | Antigua and Barbuda | 1987

Keyword: Standards, Institution, Fraud/deceit/adulteration, Packaging/labelling

Source: FAO, FAOLEX