What is the CCA Scheme?
The Caribbean Cooperation for Accreditation (CCA) Scheme is developed to assist the facilitation of intra and extra-regional trade. The arrangement supports Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) such as laboratories, inspection and certification bodies through coaching, training and development assistance to achieve accreditation to international standards. The Scheme is based on the principles of mutual cooperation and collaboration amongst the regions recognize National Accreditation Bodies (NABs), National Accreditation Focal Points (NAFPs) and the CARIOCM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ).
Benefits of Accreditation within the CCA Scheme:
— Provide affordable and readily available accreditation services in and for the region
— Improve acceptance of results from national CABs at the regional and international level
— Reduce the need for additional conformity assessment when products enter a new country
— Give producers, exporters and importers access to internationally recognised conformity assessment services
— Facilitate assistance in the development of an internationally recognised Regional Quality Infrastructure (RQI)
The CCA Mark:
The CCA Mark represents Caribbean People using an innovative and creative arrangement of technical and financial development initiatives to promote the quality-competitiveness of goods and services produced or used in the region.
Partner Accreditation Bodies (PABs):
The Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC) is an agency of the Government of Jamaica established to provide accreditation services to Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs), such as laboratories, certification and inspection bodies. JANAAC plays a very important role in facilitating trade between Jamaica and its trading partners. Through the provision of accreditation services, the agency enables local Conformity Assessment Systems to meet international standards and eliminate some Technical Barriers that have affected Jamaican manufacturers and exporters for many years.
Trinidad and Tobago Laboratory Accreditation Service (TTLABS) is the National Accreditation Body for laboratories providing accreditation services to testing laboratories (this includes medical laboratories) and calibration laboratories. TTLABS also facilitates training of the ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 15189 standards and aspects related to the application of the technical requirements of the standard.