Covering an area of 144000 square kilometers, Bangladesh is a small country having big population of 140 million with a per capita income of $ 360 (World Bank 2004). Bangladesh is a founder member of the World Trade Organization. The country worked intimately with the erstwhile General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT) and General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). Business Process Reengineering (BPR) and Total Quality Management (TQM) in TET Systems can be treated as the working tools for implementation of the GATT and GATA rules. The best way for free movement of workforce acceptable across the globe is the Accreditation and Certification for TET Institutions, wherefrom these workforces may be educated, trained and effectively used for mutual and collective benefit.
Since liberation of Bangladesh in 1971, Bangladesh Standards Institution has been working for setting up Bangladesh standards of quality & dimensions and prepare & promote the general adoption of appraise standards on national and international basis relating to materials, commodities, structures, practices and operations. Later Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) was established in 1985 by merging the erstwhile Bangladesh Standards Institution with Central Testing Laboratory. In 1995, Department of Agricultural marketing and grading was also merged with the BSTI. Since inception BSTI has formulated as many as 1850 standards on various items.
Development is required in the field of industrial metrology, testing, calibration, ISO9000 certification, accreditation of laboratories, certification bodies, and training institutions and in export/import certification. This year Bangladesh already drafted an Accreditation Act in the field of Testing, Certification, Assessors and Training Institutions working for conformity assessment. Bangladesh appreciates establishment of Asia-Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission (APACC) of TET Institutions for quality assurance. Cooperation in these fields will promote bilateral trade among the member countries. This will help remove the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and judicious application of Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) measures.
Bangladesh is a member of the International Organization for Standardization (SIO). Technical Assistance is required to facilitate our participation in the international standardization activities. BSTI is the focal point for the Codes Alimentations Commission of FAO in Bangladesh. Predominantly being an agricultural country Bangladesh has enormous scope for market access in the European Union and other western countries for export of agro-based products.
National SPS Committee, National TBT Committee and National Codex Committee may be established and National Enquiry points should be strengthened as soon as possible. In that case entrepreneurs can comply with the SPS and TBT requirements more nationally for exportable items. In order to prevent problems of microbial contamination of food and agricultural products, capacity building is needed in the laboratories, certification bodies, inspection bodies, training institutions and persons engaged for conformity assessment working under the Ministers of Industries, Commerce, Agriculture, Education, Health and Family Welfare, Finance, Fisheries and Livestock, Science and Information Communication Technology etc. Bangladesh may make Mutual Recognition Agreements on conformity assessment with developing countries and developed countries to boost exports and to enable free flow of goods from one country to another. Bangladesh established a National Steering Committee for implementing the provisions of WTO Agreements. There are five working groups under this committee headed by different relevant ministries. In Bangladesh the priority export sectors are Ready Made Garments (RMG), Leather, Shrimps, Vegetables, Tea, Agro Products, Frozen Fish etc.
Although Bangladesh already adopted ISO 9000, ISO 14000, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) and many other international standards yet the number of organizations that obtained certificates on ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 is not very encouraging.
Bangladesh welcomes foreign direct investments to face the challenges and utilize the opportunities of free trade under various agreements of World Trade Organization. Attempts had been made to revise and update standards to international level and to increase quality of products and services. The new industrial policy of Bangladesh envisages the improvement of quality of products and services both for increasing domestic and foreign trade. Many Bangladeshi organizations began implementing the provisions of the WTO Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement. Yet creating more awareness about the possible consequences of TBT is of critical importance.
2. STATUS OF NATIONAL ACCREDITATION SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY AND ITS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTION
Conformity Assessment as a Part of Accreditation System.
In Bangladesh TET Institutions are mainly operating in the government sectors through various (non-technical) Universities, Technical Universities, Technical Education Directorate, Training Institutions, Government Organizations, Autonomous Organizations like the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and Education Boards. However, some private institutions are working as TET Institutions namely, computer training centers and institutions, vocational and polytechnic training institutions and foreign Institutions operating in Bangladesh. Government through the Ministry of Education usually recognizes the activities of such intuitions. But this is not mandatory. An assessment form the government should be made to maintain proper standards and ensure quality of training to attain international level.
BSTI certifies quality of commodities, materials, and products. The Directorate of Fisheries issues certification of frozen fish and shrimps. The foreign certification bodies operating in Bangladesh are issuing certification on ISO 9000 and ISO 14000. BSTI is expected to establish ISO 9000 certification in cooperation with United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
The government of the People¡¯s Republic of Bangladesh brought 142 manufactured/processed items under compulsory certification marks scheme. BSTI has so far issued more than 5000 licenses on compulsory certification.
Mutual Recognition Agreements
Bangladesh had made trade agreements with some development partners in consonance with trade needs and objectives on mutually beneficial basis. The contracting parties grant each other Most Favoured Nation treatment in accordance with the provisions of WTO. Bangladesh is a beneficiary of the GSP scheme. There are some Mutual Recognition Agreement on the quality workforce and certificates with a few countries. However, Bangladesh may recognize the Foreign Accreditation certificates of some government approved agencies if found appropriate.
Accreditation System in Bangladesh
A draft Act had been submitted in the government for creating a National Accreditation Board. The Act (the Bangladesh Accreditation Act 2004) will be placed before the Parliament for enactment. This is meant for the accreditation of testing laboratories, certification bodies, assessors and training institutions working for conformity assessment. A 16 member autonomous Board headed by a chairman appointed by the Board will exercise all powers for the functioning of the activities of the Board.
After establishing the Bangladesh Accreditation Board, it will be convenient to make Mutual Recognition Agreements with the trading partners. Bangladesh will also become a member of the International Accreditation Forum and Asia-Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission (APACC).
The Institution of Engineers Bangladesh established a Bangladesh Professional Engineers Registration Board (BPERB) to give accreditation to Engineers by awarding a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) certificate. Similarly Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) registers Graduate Doctors, Institution of Cost and Management (ICMA) registers Chartered Accountants, Bangladesh Bar Council registers Graduate Lawyers and so on.
3. PRESSING PROBLEMS IN ACQUIRING INTERNATIONAL/REGIONAL ACCREDITATION AND CERTIFICATION
BSTI has a Metrology with 6regional metrology offices and laboratories for legal and industrial metrology. The metrology laboratories are equipped with the secondary and working standards of weights and measures.
It may be noted that about 70% enterprises of Bangladesh check, maintain and calibrate the facilities for testing. Calibration is performed mainly in house. Many companies calibrate the equipment in some other calibration laboratories. Personnel in the calibration/testing laboratory possess academic qualification of M.Sc, B.Sc Engineer, Ph.D for officers/managers and B.Sc and Diploma for technicians. Some of the calibration/testing laboratory personnel are trained on Standard for the competence of calibration and testing laboratories as per ISO IEC 17025.
Calibration/testing parameters include voltage, current, power, lumen, length, pressure, force, mass, temperature, resistance, capacitance, gas flow, liquid flow, volume, etc. Absence of accreditation system in Bangladesh deters accreditation of the local testing, measurement and calibration laboratories. Measurement standards are traceable in BSTI and also in some other corporate laboratories. Generally, in house calibration facilities are not open too outside customers.
Bangladesh companies are aware of BSTI as a national Standard Metrology, Testing & Quality (SMTQ) institutions. Supports from the government in the following areas are expected:
1.
Increase of quality management education
2,
Financial support for investment on testing equipment
3.
Advisory and consulting services in the field of quality
4.
Training
5.
Product testing
6.
Calibration of equipment
Assessment of many testing laboratories has not yet to been made by any competent authority. BSTI testing and calibration laboratories are yet to be accredited by foreign accreditation body.
For transparency rational application of the TBT, the Government of Bangladesh nominated BSTI as the WTO/TBT Agreements National Enquiry Point since 2002. Bangladesh does not restrict trade more than necessary. Nevertheless, Bangladesh has brought 142 compulsory standards for conformity assessment. There are committees in the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Agriculture and BSTI on WTO matters. The awareness about TBT among manufacturing organizations is still growing. Bangladesh did not circulate any WTO notification through Central Registry of Notification on TBT due to lack of awareness and expertise.
In Bangladesh, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare look after the Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary (SPS) Measures. The Plant Protection Wing of the Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for execution and implementation of the National and International Plant Quarantine Legislation and Agreement. Aquatic animal health and health of livestock are looked after by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Industry and BSTI. Department of Fisheries and Department of Livestock arrange inspection of imported animal, poultry bird, fish fries and looks for signs and symptoms of pests and diseases. BSTI is the focal point for the Codex Alimentarious Commission of FAO in Bangladesh. Delegates from Bangladesh need to attend the Codex meetings to express its concerns on the emerging standards.
Control of pesticide residue in the food and agricultural products is and important task for the country. Technical cooperation in the areas of training for government professionals, industry and consumer groups on strengthening food safety, quality and laboratory equipment for control of pesticide residue is much needed for Bangladesh. A mechanism for food import control need to be developed to prevent cross border entry of substandard and adulterated products not conforming to standards and technical regulation.
Training on standardization, Quality Management (ISO 9000), Environmental Management (ISO 14000), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), Good Hygiene Practice (GHP), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Accreditation of Laboratories (ISO/IEC ? 17025), Certification Bodies and Assessors, Metrology, Calibration, Inspection and Testing are essential to keep pace with the world trade. Government of Asia-Pacific countries ought to make more investments on promotion of quality by increasing the facilities to help private companies by strengthening laboratories for testing and calibration, certification bodies for conformity assessment and accreditation of assessors.
Bangladesh is interested to work for human workforce development in Asia-Pacific countries to diminish the technical barriers to trade, establish Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) to facilitate trade among member countries. Moreover, developing institutional linkages for sharing facilities and expertise and planning strategies to protect interests of ACD countries in enhancing of international standards are also necessary. A road map may be prepared for information exchange in standardization by signing bilateral and multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). A web site containing data banks, WTO/TBT and SPS notifications and information about the activities of APACC and its member countries may be launched. The MOU can facilitate exchange of experts to train staff in the field of standards, metrology, and testing and conformity assessment. Frequent expert level meetings, seminars, workshops, conferences and study tours will definitely promote development and implementation of SMTQ requirements in trade.
4. RECOMMENDATIONS IN RELATION TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCREDITATION AND CERTIFICATION BODY FOR ASIA AND PACIFIC REGION
Meetings, Workshop, Seminars, Conferences and Study Tours need to be held frequently every year so that the status of progress in the agreed areas of co-operation could be assessed.
Consumers' organizations may be co-opted in the consultant process.
Standards within Asia and the Pacific countries need to be raised and revised so as to ensure that the accesses to global markets are not denied on technical grounds.
Efficiency and qualification of testing personnel should be improved so that only certified personnel could be deployed at testing laboratories.
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the basis of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRA) on acceptance of test reports, certifications and assessors working for conformity assessment may be signed between Asia and the Pacific countries. The National Accreditation Bodies of Asia and the Pacific Countries may do this.
Database on calibration and accreditation facilities that are available within the region, TBT and SPS Notifications etc. may be created and regularly updated and hosted in the web site.
Harmonization of regional standards multilateral and bilateral Agreements between Asia-Pacific countries may be signed for trade facilitation and market access.
Different training courses may be conducted in Asia-Pacific countries in the field of accreditation of testing laboratories, certification bodies and assessors (examiners of testing laboratories, inspectors of metrology, field officers for certification, ISO 9000 Lead Auditors, ISO 14000 Auditors, Good Hygienic Practice (GHP)/Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) personnel, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) assessors and laboratory accreditation personnel as per ISO/IEC 17025) working of conformity assessment.
Standards, Technical Regulations, relevant laws and rules related to the TBT and SPS Agreements need to be harmonized, Codex, International Organization of Epizotics (IOE), International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) standards are to be followed during workforce development.
Asia-Pacific Institution of Certification and Accreditation may be established for trade facilitation among Asian countries. Special and Differential Treatment may be extended to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) by the Developing and Developed Countries of Asia-Pacific countries as per rules of WTO and ILO. This may be done by allowing longer time frame for compliance of the requirements as agreed upon by Asia and the Pacific member countries.
A trust fund may be created from the subscriptions of its members to strengthen the capacities of Standardization, Metrology, Testing, Certification and Accreditation of its member countries in need. The monetary volume of trade of Asia-Pacific countries will determine the amount of subscription.
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