Describes the country's standards landscape, identifies the national standards and accreditation bodies, and lists the main national testing organization(s) and conformity assessment bodies.
Last Published: 10/22/2018

Overview

Suriname uses national and international standards.  There are no priority areas/opportunities identified for the establishment of standards.
Suriname is a member of the CARICOM Regional Organization for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) and a member of Pan American Standards Commission (COPANT).  Furthermore, the country is also a member of ISO and affiliate Member of IEC.

Standards

After adopting the Standards Law in 2004 and installing an oversight committee in 2006, the government officially established the Suriname Standards Bureau (SSB) in 2007.  SSB is the national standards body in Suriname.  SSB’s objective is to establish, adopt, maintain, and promote the use of standards and technical regulations that lead to an adequate standards infrastructure to stimulate socio-economic activities.  They also protect the health and safety of human, animal, and plant life as well as the environment in which they live.  As such, the SSB recognizes utilizing internationally accepted standards will present a distinctive advantage in this process.  Therefore, as a principle, the Bureau uses international standards where available and applicable as the basis for all standards developed within this context.  If necessary, the international standard/regional standard is adopted with national modifications.  SSB develops standards upon request of stakeholders.  Most of the requests for developing/adopting/adapting standards focus on food and food safety issues such as hygiene.  

Suriname uses  national standards and standards developed by other (international/regional) standardization bodies used in Suriname including ISO, Codex Alimentarius, International Electro Technical Commission, CROSQ, ASTM International, COPANT, SMIIC (Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries), NEN (Nederland Normalisatie Instituut), ETSI, GLOBAL GAP, etc.

Testing, Inspection and Certification

Publication of Technical Regulations
The SSB serves as national testing organization and conformity assessment body.  Product certification requirements do not burden U.S. exporters.  The SSB is the Accreditation body in Suriname.  Suriname is not a member of International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) or International Accreditation Forum (IAF).  U.S. testing laboratories can operate in the market and test U.S. products to comply with domestic regulatory requirements.  The testing laboratories should provide a testing certificate to the local authorities.

 “Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are required under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) to notify to the WTO proposed technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures that could affect trade. Notify U.S. is a free, web-based e-mail registration service that captures and makes available for review and comment key information on draft regulations and conformity assessment procedures. Users receive customized e-mail alerts when new notifications are added by selected country(ies) and industry sector(s) of interest, and can also request full texts of regulations.  This service and its associated web site are managed and operated by the USA WTO TBT Inquiry Point housed within the National Institute of Standards and Technology, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.” 

Contact Information
Suriname Standards Bureau
Address: Leysweg 10, Paramaribo
Phone: (597) 499-928/ 499-929
Fax: (597)499-926
Email: dirssb@gmail.com www.ssb.sr
 
Embassy Paramaribo Standards point of Contact:
Christy Doherty
Econ Officer
Email: dohertycs@state.gov

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