Dominica Bureau of Standards (DBOS)

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Dominica Bureau of Standards (DBOS) is the official national standards authority of Dominica, dedicated to enforcing quality, safety, and accuracy across goods, services, and measurement systems throughout the country.

About Dominica Bureau of Standards (DBOS)

Established by the Standards Act No. 4 of 1999, the Dominica Bureau of Standards operates under the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Business and Export Development. Overseen by a fourteen-member National Standards Council, the Bureau is tasked with developing and enforcing technical standards for commodities, services, processes, and manufacturing practices. Its mission is to enhance public health, consumer protection, industrial efficiency, environmental stewardship, and the global competitiveness of Dominican goods and services.

Core Functions and Services

DBOS performs and supports a range of key standardization activities through several specialized units:

• Standards Development: Drafting national specifications and codes for products and industrial processes
• Inspection & Compliance: Enforcing mandatory national standards and monitoring imported/exported goods
• Metrology: Verifying measuring instruments used in trade to ensure accuracy and fairness
• National Certification: Certifying farms, food producers, manufacturers, and service providers under schemes such as DOM‑GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices)
• National Centre of Testing Excellence (NCTE): Operating chemistry, microbiology, and physical testing labs for quality assessment and material safety.

The Bureau also advocates for accreditation, conformity assessment, and educational outreach, empowering industries with knowledge and compliance tools.

Impact, Affiliations & Reach

With over 20 technical professionals trained in ISO standards, such as ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environment), ISO 17025 (laboratory), and ISO 22000 (food safety), DBOS serves diverse sectors including agriculture, tourism, food processing, construction, and manufacturing. As host of the National Metrology Programme and the chemical weapons convention authority, it actively contributes to Dominica’s regulatory compliance and international trade readiness.

DBOS is affiliated with CARICOM’s CROSQ, ISO, ASTM, CARIMET, SIM, and IEC, and it serves as Dominica’s National Enquiry Point for WTO technical barriers to trade, as well as the liaison for Codex Alimentarius and biodegradability standards.

Vision and Quality Commitment

DBOS envisions itself as “a leading national standardization body in the region”, guided by values of transparency, integrity, professionalism, teamwork, and continuous improvement. The Bureau's quality policy aligns with Dominica’s social and economic development goals, climate resilience plans, and the Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring that national standards support a safer, more competitive future.

DBOS’s central offices are located at the National Centre for Testing Excellence in Stock Farm (Roseau), with additional facilities at the Customs Building (Woodbridge Bay) and in Portsmouth. Through their national reach, technical services, laboratory testing, and strategic oversight, DBOS plays a critical role in elevating the safety, reliability, and global standing of Dominica’s goods and services.