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GHANA STANDARDS BOARD. INTRODUCTION The Ghana Standards Board was established by the Standards Decree, 1973 NRCD 173 with the following aims To establish and promulgate standards with the object to ensuring high quality of goods produced in Ghana either for the local or
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GHANA STANDARDS BOARD INTRODUCTION The Ghana Standards Board was established by the Standards Decree, 1973 NRCD 173 with the following aims To establish and promulgate standards with the object to ensuring high quality of goods produced in Ghana either for the local or export markets.
To promote standardisation in industry and commerce. • To promote industrial efficiency and development. • To promote standards in public health and industrial welfare, health and safety
ORGANISATION STRUCTURE The Board has five technical divisions and an Administrative Division Technical Divisions The Board has five (5) main Technical Divisions • Standards Development • Certification • Inspectorate • Testing • Metrology
Standards Development • The GSB develops national standards for the promotion of trade. Standards development activities cover the following areas. • Product Standards for industrial goods; • Product standards for Non- Traditional Exports (NTE’s) including fruits and vegetables
Management Systems Standards • Methods of Test • Codes of good manufacturing practice
National Standards are basically voluntary standards developed by consensus by designated Technical Committees and Sub-Committees. These committees are made up of representatives of the relevant stakeholders in a particular subject area or industry sector.
CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT SERVICES OFFERED BY THE BOARD In pursuance of the goals set out in the enabling decree (NRCD 173, 1973 ) the Board provides the following services • Testing • Certification (Product & Management Systems) • Inspection
Testing Services GSB provides testing facilities for the following range of products/analysis. • Food and Agric Products • Drugs, cosmetics and Forensic Products • Microbiological analysis with respect to the above products. • Pesticide Residue Analysis
Materials • General and household chemicals • Mechanical Engineering Products • Electrical Engineering Products • Civil Engineering Products
Product Certification • The Ghana Standards Board certification mark system involves the issue of certificate to attest that a specific product meets a defined set of requirements for that product, usually specified in a standard. The certificate confers on the applicant the right to use the Board’s mark of conformity.
Other QualityAssurance Services Destination Inspection • GSB is the appointed agency of the Ministry of Trade & Industry for inspection of “High Risk Goods” imported into the country. • Goods designated as High Risk Goods are described below. • Food items • Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages • s
Pharmaceuticals • Electrical and Electronic appliances • Building and Construction materials • Textiles • Chemicals • Second-hand goods (Clothes) • Pyrotechnic products • Arms, ammunition and explosive
Metrology Metrology is the science of measurements. The Board’s responsibility covers the following subject areas • Legal Metrology • Industrial Metrology • Scientific Metrology
Mass measurements • Laboratories analytical balances, • platform weighing scales, • weighbridges, • market scales, • test weights, • cocoa weighing scales, • industrial hoppers and other weighing devices
Flow measurements • Flowmeters in the petroleum and food industries, domestic and bulk water meters, • surface tanks, • underground tanks and bk road vehicles. • fuel dispensing pumps, • gas dispensers and oil decanters
Dimensional/Linear measurements • Micrometers, • veneer callipers, • measuring tapes of all kinds, • sieves etc
Electrical measurements • Voltmeters, • Ammeters, multi-meters, • energy/power meters, • ohmmeters,
Temperature measurements • Clinical thermometers, • Liquid-in-glass thermometers, • thermocouples • temperature indicators
Conformity Assessment and Trade The purpose and reasons for performing conformity assessment is to assist in fostering both domestic and international trade by providing conscientious producers the opportunity to distinguish their products from those made by disreputable ones.
It also serves to provide consumers a means by which to rely in selecting product in the marketplace. • It permits governments to enforce the regulations for which they are responsible in protecting the public health and safety • It provides assurance to inspection organisations, insurance companies, etc in respect of product or service for which they are taking a risk..
Maximum benefits from conformity assessment activities can be realised if there is a global product acceptance of ONE TIME PRODUCT APPROVALS based on MULTINATIONAL AGREEMENTS recognising equivalence of national conformity assessment.
Emphasis , however , should be placed on regionalism in order to first harmonise the diverse national requirements and procedures and develop assessment modules for subsequent global harmonisation.