The Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) was created by law under the Standards Act of 1969 to promote higher standards in commodities, processes and practices. The BSJ also administers the Processed Food Act of 1959 and the Weights and Measures Act of 1976. A 14-member Standards Council appointed by Government is responsible for policy direction and the general administration of the organization, and an Executive Director for day-to-day operations of the organization.

Standards development activities, facilitated by the BSJ, are carried out by some 29 technical committees covering a wide range of fields in the goods and services sectors. In 1984, the BSJ established a National Certification Mark Programme, awarding the BSJ mark to goods of consistently reliable quality and which conform to Jamaican Standards.

Current focus:
Standards development (national, regional and International Standards); conformity assessment - inspection, testing, calibration, certification, monitoring, registration; metrology (scientific, industrial, legal); training; consumer protection through the standards compliance/import monitoring programme and provision of technical information to manufacturers, exporters, traders, government officials, consumers and the general public.

The BSJ also serves as the WTO/TBT National Enquiry Point and FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission Contact Point.