Because the facilities do not meet minimum quality standards, 79% of registered accommodations in Guatemala are classified as not recommended.
The Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (INGUAT) reported that most hostels, pensions, small hotels and other hotel facilities in the country are considered as not recommended because "they do not meet quality standards and are not suitable for domestic and foreign tourists to visit."
On May 12 and 13 a conference on quality management will be held in San Jose which will focus on the sectors of health and safety.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry:
San Jose April 28, 2016. The Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC), as rector of the National Council for Quality and technical bodies made up of: the National Agency for Standardization (INTECO), the Technical Regulation Body (ORT), the Costa Rican Metrology Laboratory (LACOMET) and the Costa Rican Accreditation Entity (ECA), is promoting the First International Conference on Quality, on May 12 and 13 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Corobici.
On August 24th and 25th companies and public institutions will meet to discuss issues such as standards and quality management, as well as taking part in a business roundtables for the industrial sector.
Central America must improve the quality standards of its products, learn more about the consumers and simplify processes in order to take advantage of the opportunities of the Agreement with the European Union.
In order to maximize the opportunities provided by the Association Agreement which has been signed with the European Union (EU), Central American companies must have a better understanding of the European market, which has more than 500 million consumers who are demanding in terms of quality and food safety. Furthermore, it is essential to simplify export procedures in order to expedite the process of obtaining permits and other procedures which are reducing export competitiveness in Central America.
The event will be held on August 25th and 26th in Guatemala City and will deal with issues related to quality systems and accessing markets with GlobalGAP certifications.
From a statement issued by the Guatemalan Exporters Association (Agexport):
Managing occupational risks, voluntary agreements for improving the environmental services, and best practices for reducing costs, are some of the central issues which will be addressed at the 2014 International Congress on Quality.
In the European Union the maximum level of perchlorate in fruits and vegetables is 0.5 mg / kg, and 0.2 mg / kg in citrus fruits, tubers, grapes, spinach, melons and watermelons.
From an article by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health of the European Union has agreed to set maximum permitted levels of perchlorate in food and has asked all member states of the European Union and traders to monitor compliance with these standards, especially in the case of fruits and vegetables from greenhouses.
On 25 and 26 September at the Grand Tikal Futura Hotel the 9th national and 3rd Central American Congress on Quality will take place.
Organized by the Ministry of Economics, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala and the Directorate of National Quality System (Incotec) and various business groups, the meeting will be held under the motto "Continuous improvement, strategy for competitiveness."
A standard for quality indicators in cold chains describes the quality management system of an organization that wants to demonstrate its ability to continuously supply high quality cold chain services.
CCQI, the Cold Chain Quality Indicator, is a benchmarking system that accesses the logistics capacity of a cold chain in order to maintain a certain temperature during transportation and handling of perishable temperature sensitive products (PTSP).
A regional program will support the quality and application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
In order to improve access for Central American products to markets the creation of a standardized and internationally recognized Regional System for Quality and Application of SPS Measures has been proposed.
A communiqué from the Central American Economic Integration Secretariat reads:
Equipment donated by the European Union will enable the laboratory to be updated in order to provide metrology services adhering to international standards.
The donation to the National Metrology Center (Cenamo) includes laboratory equipment for use with fine and coarse masses, volume and flow, temperature measurement, pressure, force, power, density and viscosity, dimensional, longitudinal, time and frequency, and reference materials.
The funds will be used in international commerce promotion programs and to strengthen the National Quality System.
From a $14.3 million donation announced by the European Commission, $715.000 will be used to purchase Legal Metrology equipment for the National Quality System.
Certification Body and Training in Management Systems according standards as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, GLOBALGAP, ISO 22000, BRC, SQF 1000 and 2000, USGAP , and others.
Organization that operates in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama
Phone: (506) 22349008 - (506) 2524 2560
Seven strategies that, applying Darwinian maxims, Guatemalan businesses are implementing in order to overcome these times of crisis.
An article by Louisa Reynolds in Elperiodico.com.gt details different strategies that Guatemalan entrepreneurs are carrying out in trying to be more creative in order to take advantage of any new opportunities that may arise.
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