Barbados Agritourism Policy Setting Workshop 2019 Policy setting for improved linkages between agriculture, trade and tourism: Strengthening the local agrifood sector and promoting healthy food in agritourism. Workshop organised by the Government of Barbados In collaboration with CABA, CTA, IICA, CTO, CHTA, CDB Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, Barbados, 27 & 28 March 2019

1. CARICOM REGIONAL ORGANISATION FOR
STANDARDS AND QUALITY (CROSQ)
Stephen Farquharson
Technical Officer – Accreditation and Conformity Assessment
Linking Farmers to Agribusiness
for Quality Products

2. Presentation Outline
1. Introduction to CROSQ
2. Quality Infrastructure (QI) in Agriculture
3. QI in Value Chain
4. National Dialogue Initiatives

3. INTRODUCTION TO CROSQ
• CROSQ is the network of the 15 National Standards
Bureaux (NSBs) of the Member States
• Established by Intergovernmental Agreement arising from
Article 67 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas as a
Common Supporting Measure for inter alia :
• Trade facilitation
• Enhanced efficiency in the production and delivery of goods and
services
• Improved quality of goods and services traded within the
Community and with third states
• Consumer and environmental protection

4. QI is the systems and institutions involved in strengthening the quality of goods
and services with the aim of:
Increasing trade
Ensuring consumer welfare and safety
Preserving the environment
Increasing efficiency and effectiveness
4
QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE (QI) IN AGRICULTURE

5. STANDARDISATION
- Technical Regulations
METROLOGY
- Scientific
- Industrial
- Legal
INSPECTION
- Documents
- Visual
- Performance
- Market Surveillance
TESTING
CERTIFICATION
- Personnel
- Product
- Systems
ACCREDITATI
ON
QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE (QI)
Awareness
- Marketing &
Communications
- Information
- Knowledge Mgmt.
- Education
QI in Value
Chains & Sectors
- Technical Cooperation

6. QI in Value Chain Methodology
6

7. GAP….what’s the link? (QI - Farm to Fork)

8. 8
QI IN VALUE CHAINS

9. Food
&
People
Processors
Suppliers
Quality
systems
QI in Value Chain
 Quality
Safe
Good Practices
Controls
Traceability
 Assurance
Import
Competition
Market Access
Requirements…
1 Food safety requirements
2 Regulatory requirements
3 Short shelf life of products
leading to expiry and wastage
4 Product recalls
5 Product traceability
requirements
6 Effective handling of customer
complaints
7 High order frequency and low
volumes
What’s the proof?

10. Food Issues and Demands
Safety
Hygiene
Hazards
Contaminants
Risks
Quality
Biosecurity
Food Chain Controls
Checks and Balances
Traceability
Guidelines & Standards
Monitoring
Verification
Farm to Fork
What do we do?
QI in Value Chain

11. Agriculture & QI
Making Standards Work For You…
Education &Training
Accreditation Research
Technical Guidance,
Partnership &
Cooperation
STANDARDS
National
Regional
International
Certification
Inspection & MonitoringMetrology
& Testing
PEOPLE, FOOD & TRADE
Agricultural Programme,
Initiatives, & Projects

12. DIAGNOSING QI IN VALUE CHAINS
• CALIDENA - Combines terms quality (Calidad) and chain (Cadena) in Spanish
 Addresses quality issues in the value chain through rapid diagnosis to increase
competitiveness at each level of the value chain.
 It involves representatives from all links of the value chain
• farmers
• processors
• buyers
• other actors (input and equipment suppliers, transport and packaging provider.)
12

13. Other Institutions Involved includes:
 National quality infrastructure institutions
• Testing and Calibration Laboratories
• Certification and Inspection Bodies
• Metrology Institutes
• Standardization (NSBs)
• Accreditation Bodies
 Consumer Protection
• Environmental Organizations
• Export Promotion Agencies
• Regulatory Agencies
13
DIAGNOSING QI IN VALUE CHAINS (Contd)

14. Value chains must be clearly defined
Potential for export must be present
Value added to product at each link
Demand driven – based on customer requirements/requirements
14
QI IN VALUE CHAINS APPROACH

15. HOW DOES VALUE CHAIN METHODOLOGY WORK?
15
• Training of Facilitators
• Selection of VC
• Feasibility Study
• Sensitize QI bodies and VC
actors
FEASIBILITY
• Participatory appraisal of
quality issues within the VC
• Identification of “hot topics”
to improve in VC and NQI
• Action plan
DIAGNOSTIC
• Implementation of
proposals in VC
• QI-internal evaluation
of results
IMPLEMENTATION

16. National Dialogue Initiatives
To increase awareness of the importance of quality in enhancing
competitiveness of businesses
To increase understanding of the role of QI in enhancing the development of
the agriculture sector
To provide guidance to the industry to structure services to match the needs
for the agriculture sector
To initiate active and frequent dialogue between the Ministry, national quality
infrastructure institutions and the private sector to address issues related to
quality
Development of a national action plan 16

17. Example of Action Plan from National Dialogue
17
What How Who When
1. Develop standards Follow code of practice for
development
BNSI Start Jan 201X End
Dec 201X
1. Training in QMS (all persons) Training of processors, producers,
fishers and technical officers
BNSI, CROSQ, MoA Start Jan 201X End Dec
201X
Implementation of labelling and
packaging standards
Public education, training and
advocacy
BNSI Start Jan 201X End Dec
201X
1. Certification and accreditation of
authorities and facilities
Clear non-conformances BNSI, CROSQ, MoA Start Jan 201X End Dec
201X
1. Calibration & verification of
measuring devices
Promotion of the use of the
devices
Update/review Weights and
Measures Act Public
education, training and advocacy
and sales of the devices
BNSI, Metrology Department Start Jan 201X End Dec
201X
1. Set up an Action Plan
Implementation Committee
Send letters of invitation to
relevant agencies- agriculture,
public heath, private sector, etc
BNSI Start Jan 201X End Dec
201X

18. Thank You!
Stephen Farquharson
Technical Officer – Accreditation and Conformity Assessment
CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards & Quality
2nd Floor Baobab Tower
Warrens, St. Michael
BARBADOS
+1-246-622-7670