ational and Regional Quality Infrastructure
National bureaus of standards (NBS) exist in all Member States and perform a combi- nation of functions, including developing standards, testing and certification, me- trology, market surveillance, and accredita- tion, all of which are essential elements of national infrastructure aimed at ensuring quality.62 However, the level of quality infra- structure in the Region varies considerably. The MDCs have well-developed national standards bodies and are working to im- prove accreditation services. But in many smaller Member States, the national stan- dards bodies are very small and can only provide a limited number of services. At the regional level, in 2003, CARICOM estab- lished the Caribbean Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) as an intergovernmental organisation.
Guided by the foregoing, an impor- tant development outcome of the Region is strengthening Regional quality infrastruc- ture. Stronger infrastructure will provide
a platform for increasing competitiveness, productivity, and exports. Annex I sets out the major regional priorities areas to be pur- sued, which include: