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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Bahamas Information Services Updates
For Pre-Export Verification of Conformity Programme For Used Vehicles Exported From Japan Minister Foulkes explained that in early 2018, The Bahamas Bureau of Standards & Quality (BBSQ) decided to invite motor vehicle inspection specialists to provide an ‘Expression of Interest’ in working with them on the development and implementation of such a Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme for used vehicles prior to importation into The Bahamas. He disclosed that after careful scrutiny and consideration of the replying Inspection Companies, BBSQ, along with its reporting relationship to the Ministry of Labour, established that EAA Company Limited from Japan, was the most qualified of such companies. Their appointment was recommended to the Bahamian Government and approved by Cabinet in November 2018. Minister Foulkes commented, “With the introduction of this PVoC programme to The Bahamas, we take a positive and responsible step toward the protection of our citizens through ensuring only roadworthy vehicles enter our country, and our environment by enforcing internationally recognised emissions and radiation conformance on vehicle imports. As a Small Island State, we can no longer allow the growing practice of dumping end of life vehicles on the side of our roads, or having un-roadworthy vehicles endangering the lives of Bahamians.” He continued, “The Government of The Bahamas, along with all of its relative working agencies, that is (Customs Department, the Department of Road Traffic, the Department of Public Works, and the Arawak Port Development, The Bahamas Motor Dealers’ Association, and many of our Private Used Car Companies and Rental Companies), proudly stand behind this PVoC programme and the working relationship being forged with our chosen partner, EAA Company Limited, in ensuring the compliance at our borders of all used vehicles imported.” Minister Foulkes said that many countries around the world have moved and are moving toward the introduction of import regulations that require the pre-shipment inspection of used motor vehicle imports. He said that there is strong evidence to support that such a Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme serves to keep the roads of the countries free of potentially unsafe vehicles. Minister Foulkes disclosed that according to the Arawak Port Development (APD), more than 11,000 units (both passenger and commercial) were imported in 2016. In 2017, the total units increased significantly to 18,469 and fell slightly in 2018 to 17,191, the vast majority of which were from Japan. He said that it is anticipated that 2019 import numbers will be similar to that of 2017 and 2018. “From these statistics, the need to ensure these imports are ‘roadworthy’, prior to leaving the countries of origin, is essential to protect The Bahamas from continuing to be a ‘dumping ground’ for unsafe motor vehicles,” the Labour Minister said. Minister Foulkes said that Japan as a country, has suffered several nuclear accidents; (the latest in 2011 in Fukushima), and it is imperative that potentially radiated used vehicles, are not allowed to enter our country. “This Pre-Inspection of Verification to Conformity programme, specifically addresses this risk by including a mandatory requirement for radiation inspection on every inspected vehicle. There is evidence that even 6 years after the last nuclear accident in Japan, highly radiated vehicles are being detected prior to export, where such vehicles are subjected to a pre-shipment inspection. In addition to radiation inspections, EAA will also check for the following:-Steering Wheel Alignment, Breaking Force, Level of noise, Exhaust gas and pipe emissions, Brightness of Head lamps, Horn sound level, Engine, Cooling System, Fuel System, Transmission System, Propeller Shaft, Final Drive System, Axel Housing, Suspension System, Axles, wheels and tyres, Mileage meter, Warning lights, Frame and vehicle body.” The contract will commence with an initial pilot programme of one year. After the signing there will be a 90 day period to finalize the implementation process and public education. The cost of the inspections is $150.00 which will be paid by the exporters in Japan. EAA headquarters is in Yokohama, Japan. It is a used vehicle inspection specialist. Established in 2007, EAA is an independent company that has no conflicts of interest. It is accredited by the International Organization for Standardisation (ISO Standard 17020); in 2012; by the Japanese Accreditation Board, and a member of CITA (the International Association of Public and Private Sector Organisations actively practising Compulsory Inspection of Motor Vehicles). EAA CO. Ltd is also contracted and approved by the Regulatory Standards Bodies and Agencies in Singapore, Mauritius, Tanzania, Zambia and Zanzibar, to conduct such used vehicle inspections. EAA officials represented at the contract signing included Mr. Prosper Sugai, Chief Executive Officer; Mr. Lee Sayer, Vice President and Director and Mr. Toyohiko Hashino, General Manager. Also in attendance at the meeting was Ms. Cecilia Strachan, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour; Mr. William Pratt, Senior Undersecretary in the Ministry of Labour; Mr. Aaron Brice, Chairman of The Bahamas Bureau of Standards & Quality (BBSQ); Dr. Renae F. Bufford, Director of BBSQ and Mr. L. Fred Albury of The Bahamas Motor Dealers Association. REMARKS BY SENATOR THE HONOURABLE DION A. FOULKES MINISTER OF LABOUR PRE-EXPORT VERIFICATION OF CONFORMTIY (PVoC) OF USED VEHICLES FOR ROADWORTHINESS 21ST JANUARY, 2019 @ 11:00 A.M. CHARLOTTE HOUSE, NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS Ms. Cecilia Strachan, Permanent Secretary,
Mr. William Pratt, Sr. Under Secretary I, Mr. Prosper Sugai, CEO of EAA Company Ltd. (Japan), Other Senior Executive from EAA Co. Ltd., Controller of Road Traffic, BBSQ’s Standards Council, Members of the Ministry of Labour, Ladies and gentlemen, Members of the Press, Good Morning. It is a pleasure to be in your presence and to welcome you to this most favourable occasion in the life of my Ministry and the country at large. I am extremely proud to be associated with this milestone achievement, which the Government of The Bahamas is embarking upon, in establishing the necessary parameters, for roadworthiness of all used vehicles imported from Japan into our country. A little over twelve years ago, Parliament passed legislation that paved the way for the creation of the Bureau of Standards (BBSQ), through its Standards Act, and its Weights and Measures Act of 2006. The establishment of such a Bureau, as a vital agency to ensure that quality and standards setting are a way of life for Bahamians, is an essential part of the process of Nation building and also in how these parameters are applied for such quality controls. With the global availability of used vehicles from major exporting countries such as Japan reaching close to 1.3 million units in 2017, and the 2018 figures estimated to be close to 1.4 million units, regulations controlling the quality and safety of such vehicles are paramount to importing countries. Many Countries around the world have moved and are moving toward the introduction of import regulations that require the pre-shipment inspection of used motor vehicle imports. There is strong evidence to support that such a Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme serves to keep the roads of the countries free of potentially unsafe vehicles. These regulated programmes are generally self-funding and can provide a source of income for National Standards Bodies (such as BBSQ), through administration fees. This in turn provides income to allow the Regulatory Authority to administer the pre- export inspection programme (without the need for separate local funding). The importation of used vehicles into The Bahamas began from as far back as the early 1990’s, and has generated both positive and negative effects in the economy. Over the past three (3) years, used vehicle imports to The Bahamas have been relatively strong. According to the Arawak Port Development (APD), more than 11,000 units (both passenger and commercial) were imported in 2016. In 2017, the total units increased significantly to 18,469 and fell slightly in 2018 to 17,191, the vast majority of which were from Japan. It is anticipated that 2019 import numbers will be similar to that of 2017 and 2018. From these statistics, the need to ensure these imports are ‘Roadworthy’, prior to leaving the countries of origin, is essential to protect The Bahamas from continuing to be a “dumping ground” for unsafe motor vehicles. Japan as a Country, has suffered several nuclear accidents; (the latest in 2011 in Fukushima), and it is imperative that potentially radiated used vehicles, are not allowed to enter our Country. This Pre-Inspection of Verification to Conformity programme, specifically addresses this risk by including a mandatory requirement for radiation inspection on every inspected vehicle. There is evidence that even 6 years after the last nuclear accident in Japan, highly radiated vehicles are being detected prior to export, where such vehicles are subjected to a pre-shipment inspection. In addition to radiation inspections, EAA will also check for the following:-
The contract will commence with an initial pilot programme of one year. After the signing today there will be a 90 day period to finalize the implementation process and public education. The cost of the inspections is $150.00 which will be paid by the exporters in Japan. In early 2018, BBSQ decided to invite motor vehicle inspection specialists to provide an ‘Expression of Interest’ in working with us on the development and implementation of such a Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme for used vehicles prior to importation into The Bahamas. After careful scrutiny and consideration of the replying Inspection Companies, BBSQ, along with its reporting relationship to the Ministry of Labour, established that EAA Company Limited from Japan, was the most qualified of such companies. Their appointment was recommended to the Bahamian Government and approved by Cabinet in November 2018. EAA, whose headquarters is in Yokohama, Japan, is a used vehicle inspection specialist. Established in 2007, EAA is an independent company that has no conflicts of interest. It is accredited by the International Organization for Standardisation (ISO Standard 17020); in 2012; by the Japanese Accreditation Board, and a member of CITA (the International Association of Public and Private Sector Organisations actively practising Compulsory Inspection of Motor Vehicles). EAA CO. Ltd is also contracted and approved by the Regulatory Standards Bodies and Agencies in Singapore, Mauritius, Tanzania, Zambia and Zanzibar, to conduct such used vehicle inspections. While PVoC programmes exist in many parts of the world already, the Caribbean has been somewhat slower to embrace this need for pre-shipment inspection for road safety. Jamaica commenced their pre-inspection programme in February 2018, and The Bahamas is second in leading the way in the Caribbean, by also regulating to protect our roads from unroadworthy, potentially end of life vehicles. With the introduction of this PVoC program to The Bahamas, we take a positive and responsible step toward the protection of our citizens (through ensuring only roadworthy vehicles enter our country), and our environment (by enforcing internationally recognised emissions and radiation conformance on vehicle imports). As a Small Island State, we can no longer allow the growing practice of dumping end of life vehicles on the side of our roads, or having un-roadworthy vehicles endangering the lives of Bahamians. The Government of The Bahamas, along with all of its relative working agencies, that is (Customs Department, the Department of Road Traffic, the Department of Public Works, and the Arawak Port Development, The Bahamas Motor Dealers’ Association, and many of our Private Used Car Companies and Rental Companies), proudly stand behind this PVoC programme and the working relationship being forged with our chosen partner, EAA Company Limited, in ensuring the compliance at our borders of all used vehicles imported. Thank you.
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