James Kon
It is important to provide a strong national accreditation scheme that is impartial and internationally recognised, said Director of Industry and Business Ecosystem Division (IBE) as Acting Director of the National Standards Centre (NSC), Ministry of Finance and Economy (MoFE), Allen On.
He made these comments at a socialisation session on ‘Opportunities and Advantages in Launching Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Accreditation Scheme of ISO 14065 in Brunei Darussalam’ conducted by the MoFE through the NSC and bilateral collaboration with European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on February 7 and 8.
An initiative under the EU-South East Asia Cooperation on Mitigating Climate Change impact from Civil Aviation for the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (EU SEA CCCA CORSIA), the event at Radisson Hotel aimed to introduce the importance of GHG standards such as ISO 14065:2020 that specifies the principles and requirements for bodies performing validation and verification of environmental information statements and ISO 14064:2018, that provides series of standard for quantifying and reporting GHG emissions.
Allen said the NSC will strengthen the national quality infrastructure with coordinated effort in the development of national standards and accreditation schemes in the Sultanate that are internationally recognised, not only to meet the market needs but also protect Brunei Darussalam’s environment.
This is also in line with the titah of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam at the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit, focussing on current challenges – climate change, biodiversity loss and deforestation – which have contributed to extreme weather patterns, loss of potable water, air pollution, and environmental degradation. Also discussed was the role of accreditation in assessing the competency and reliability of Conformity Assessment Bodies in providing verification and validation services related to GHG emission.
From monitoring of GHG emissions to the testing and inspection of energy efficient electrical items, to solar, wind, wave and nuclear power generators, it is important to ensure accurate measurements, competent inspection, reliable testing and verifiable claims.
Accreditation provides an independent and robust evaluation of bodies that test, measure, inspect, verify and certify products, systems, claims and personnel that are fundamental in supporting government policy and any industry-led initiatives on carbon emission.
The session was attended by representatives from different governmental agencies including Brunei Climate Change Secretariat; Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation; Forestry Department; Department of Civil Aviation, Land Transport Department, Royal Brunei Airlines as well as participants from National Aeroplane Operator and Verification Bodies in Brunei and the private sector.
