Why Get Involved in Standards Development?

Participation in the standardization process is a strategic move for your company. By actively taking part in standard development processes you can “stay on top of the game”, ensuring that you are always well-informed and that your company’s interests are best represented. For example, innovations that have been brought to the standardization process are more likely to be successful on the market. It is through participation in the process that innovations can be considered and investment security can be improved. In addition, getting involved in standard development builds your network, bringing you in direct contact with those working in your industry who may be advancing research and development in key areas, as well as experts and specialists who can assist your company in further improving quality. It is also important for consumers to be involved in the standardization process. Consumers provide important feedback related to use of products and services, quality and safety and can offer important support related to the testing of products to ensure that they conform to specifications and consumer expectations. Lastly, if no standards related to your product exist, it could be a strategic move to propose their development. This might be for safety reasons, to preserve the credibility of the product or to secure a competitive advantage. Standard development requests can be made through the BSJ. Ultimately, decisions about standards affect your business, as well as your health and safety. It is important to get involved.

Ways To Get Involved in Standards Development

There are many ways to get involved in standards development:

1. Become a Technical Committee member. More information on Technical Committees can be found below and on the Become a TC Member page.
2. Make comments on a standard. Comments can be made on national standards and equally, comments can be made on proposed international standards.
3. Give no objection for a standard to be adopted.
4. Propose the development of a new standard.
5. Join the Jamaica Standards Network.
6. Support the work of the BSJ by attending events and "Liking" their Facebook page to always stay on top of standards-related happenings in Jamaica.
7. Call the BSJ to find out how else you might get involved.

Technical Committees

Technical Committees (TCs) are responsible for the development of standards. TCs are ideally composed of industry experts and representatives from government, academia, consumer groups and any other stakeholders who have an interest in the subject focus of the standard. Technical committees drive all aspects of the standards development process, from determining new standards, revising outdated standards, to defining the technical content of the standard. The BSJ facilitates the work of technical committees at the national and regional levels and participates on technical committees at the international level. Click below to learn more about the active national, regional and international technical committees. If you would like more information on these technical committees or if you would like to be involved, please contact the BSJ.

Aggregates Bamboo Building & Associated Materials Cocoa Coffee Conformity Assessment Electrical Practices & Products - Alternative Energy Sub-Committee - Appliances Sub-Committee - Lighting Sub-Committee - Refrigeration Sub-Committee Environmental Management Furniture Information Communication Technology (ICT) Labeling Lead-Acid Batteries Metallurgy & Building Materials

National Building Code - Electrical Code - Energy Conservation Code - Building & Fire Code - Existing Building & Property Maintenance - Fuel Gas, Plumbing and Mechanical - Residential & Private Sewage National Petroleum Code National Food Standards Occupational Health & Safety Paints & Surface Coatings Playgrounds & Play/Sports Ships & Marine Technology Starch & Derivatives Tourism & Related Services Water Tanks

Labeling Ketchup Paint and Surface Coatings

TC 8 - Ships and Marine Technology JTC 1/SC 6 - IT: Telecommunications and information exchange between systems JTC 1/SC 7 - IT: Software and Systems Engineering JTC 1/SC 27 - IT: Security Techniques JTC 1/SC 36 - IT: Information technology for learning, education and training TC 35 - Paints and varnishes TC 58 - Gas Cylinders TC 74 - Cement & Lime TC 93 - Starch (including derivatives and by-products) TC 136 - Furniture TC 146 - Air Quality TC 147 - Water Quality TC 165 - Timber Structures: WG 12 Structural Use of Bamboo TC 176 - Quality Management and Quality Assurance TC 180 - Solar Energy TC 207 - Environmental Management TC 207/SC 1 - Environmental management systems TC 228 - Tourism and Related Services PC 283 - Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems

TC 31 - Tyres, rims and valves TC 34 - Food Products TC 34/SC 3 - Fruit and Vegetable Product TC 34/SC 4 - Coffee TC 34/SC 17 - Food Safety Management Systems TC 34/SC 18 - Cocoa TC 44 - Welding and Allied Processes TC 47 - Chemistry TC 59 - Buildings & Civil Engineering Works TC 71 - Concrete, Reinforced Concrete & Pre-Stressed Concrete TC 92 - Fire Safety TC 120 - Leather TC 122 - Packaging TC 136 - Furniture TC 176/SC 1 - Concepts & Terminology TC 176/SC 2 - Quality Systems TC 176/SC 3 - Supporting Technologies TC 190 - Soil Quality TC 207/SC 2 - Environmental Auditing & Related Environmental Investigations TC 207/SC 3 - Environmental Labeling TC 207/SC 4 - Environmental Performance Evaluation TC 229 - Nanotechnologies TC 245 - Cross Border Trade of Second Hand Goods TC 280 - Management Consultancy

Membership in Policy Development Committees ISO/CASCO - Conformity Assessment Committee Prepares international guides and International Standards relating to the practice of testing, inspection and certification of products, processes and services, and to the assessment of management systems, testing laboratories, inspection bodies, certification bodies, accreditation bodies and their operation and acceptance. ISO/COPOLA - Committee on Consumer Policy Provides a forum for the exchange of information on the experience of consumer participation in the development and implementation of standards in the consumer field, and on other questions of interest to consumers in national and international standardization. ISO/DEVCO - Committee on Developing Country Matters Identifies the needs and requirements of developing countries in the field of standardization and related activities and assist, as necessary, in defining these needs and requirements. Recommends actions to assist the developing countries in meeting these needs and requirements.