by Linda Straker
- Work began on standard following 2020 Covid-19 pandemic
- Voluntary standard listed as GDS 144:2024 and came into effect on 21 February 2025
- Non-medical face masks are particularly useful in slowing spread of disease in symptomatic, asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic patients
The importation of non-medical face masks for commercial sales and personal use, as well as local manufacturers of non-medical face masks, will have to comply with a standard as established by the Grenada Bureau of Standards (GDBS).
“This national standard is intended for use by manufacturers, importers and distributors of non medical face masks to assist in the manufacturing or procuring non medical face masks which satisfied minimum quality and performance requirements,” states the voluntary standards which came into effect on 21 February 2025.
Work began on the standard following the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic when the regulations required wearing a face mask. The standard is listed as GDS 144:2024, and the notice about it coming into effect was published in the 6 February 2025 edition of the Government Gazette.
A review of the standard revealed it was developed to establish a minimum requirement for non-medical face masks, which are intended to act as a physical barrier to small droplets secreted during talking, sneezing, singing, breathing and coughing to reduce the transmission of infectious agents like the Covid-19 virus.
The standard, which was up for public comments in the later part of 2024, said that non-medical face masks are particularly useful in slowing the spread of disease in symptomatic, asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic patients.
“These non-medical face masks do not exonerate the user from practicing social distancing, effective hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and other infection control measures. Additionally, it is important that the differently abled community is also protected by the use of non medical facial masks,” said the foreword to the standard.
Non-medical masks are for the general public or use in non-healthcare related environments. They should be worn when there is a low risk of exposure, outside of healthcare facilities, and/or when social distancing may be difficult.
