Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) is Trinidad and Tobago’s national standards body, national quality certifying body and national laboratory accrediting body. Established on July 8, 1974, TTBS now operates under the Ministry of Trade and Industry and under the Standards Act No. 18 of 1997. Its mandate is to improve the quality and performance of goods and services, promote industrial efficiency and development, support public health and safety, and help protect the environment.

A core function of TTBS is thes development of national standard. Through its Standardization Division, the Bureau coordinates committees made up of representatives from industry, government, consumer organizations and other stakeholders to develop standards that reflect national needs. Draft standards are released for public comment before adoption, helping ensure broad participation in the standards development process. These standards provide the foundation for testing, certification, inspection and other quality-related activities carried out throughout the country. TTBS is also responsible for maintaining and reviewing national standards and for promoting their use through education and outreach activities.

TTBS provides a wide range of conformity assessment and measurement services through its Certification, Accreditation and Metrology divisions. As the national quality certifying body, it offers certification of products, management systems and services, helping organizations demonstrate compliance with national, regional and international requirements. Laboratory accreditation is provided through the Trinidad and Tobago Laboratory Accreditation Service (TTLABS), which was established in 1996 and began accrediting laboratories in 2007. Through TTLABS, TTBS fulfills its statutory role as Trinidad and Tobago’s national laboratory accrediting body. TTLABS is a Full Member of the Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC) and an Associate Member of Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (Global ACI). TTBS also provides accredited calibration services covering mass, volume, pressure, length, temperature, electrical and time measurements, supporting reliable and traceable measurements across the country.

The Bureau also plays a central role in Trinidad and Tobago’s national measurement system through its responsibilities under the Metrology Act 2004. These responsibilities include maintaining national measurement standards, operating the National Metrology Laboratory, examining and approving measuring devices used in trade, providing calibration services, and administering legal metrology activities that help ensure fairness and accuracy in commercial transactions. In 2025, a new National Reference Standards Order formally designated national reference standards covering areas such as mass, temperature, pressure, electrical measurements, time, dimension, density and torque.

TTBS maintains active relationships with regional and international organizations involved in standards, accreditation and metrology. Through its participation in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the Caribbean Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), the Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC), Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (Global ACI) and the Inter-American Metrology System (SIM), the Bureau helps ensure that Trinidad and Tobago’s standards, accreditation services and measurement systems remain aligned with internationally recognized practices.

The Bureau’s vision is to be “the essential provider of national quality solutions leading to a standards conscious society that is globally competitive.” Its mission is to champion the development and implementation of standards, measurement systems and conformity assessment services that support the competitiveness and sustainability of Trinidad and Tobago. Through its combined responsibilities in standardization, certification, accreditation and metrology, TTBS serves as a key institution within the country’s quality infrastructure and supports confidence in products, services and measurements used throughout the economy.

For more information, please visit its official website.