AMMAN -- "One product, one test, accepted everywhere" was the theme discussed by metrology and standardisation officials as well as international experts at the start of a two-day ISO Regional Workshop on Conformity Assessment.
Jordan Institute for Standards and Metrology (JISM) Director General Yasin Khayyat, told the participants that the ultimate goal sought by conformity assessment activities was to ensure that "a manufacturer can obtain national product certification with minimal or no additional testing required by the other trading partner countries."
He called for the establishment of an Arab accreditation body "to operate a multilateral recognition agreement between all Arab countries," which he considered as "an essential step towards the establishment of the Arab Free Trade Area.
Acting as patron at the event, Industry and Trade Minister Sharif Zu'bi urged transparency and clarity in conformity rules.
"Exporters should be provided with correct information and clarifications on regulatory and market requirements," he told the opening meeting at Le Royal Hotel.
The minister described conformity assessment as a crucial part of a nation's business as well as technology and standardisation infrastructure because it promotes confidence in products.
"These standards should be applied correctly to help businesses become competitive, create market advantage, facilitate trade and sustain development," he added. Otherwise, "conformity can be a burden on business, would create barriers to trade, hinder innovation and confuse the market."
Zu'bi reviewed Jordan's economic policies and efforts to upgrade the quality of Jordanian products and services through promoting competition.
He said these policies have transformed Jordan's industry "from a non-competitive sector into one that exports products of high calibre to the world markets."
Arab Industrial Development and Mining Organisation (AIDMO) Secretary General Talaat Ben Zafer highlighted in his address the "deepening conviction of conformity assessment in the Arab world."
He linked the conviction of conformity assessment with "the Arab nations' aspirations to develop their industries and economies against the backdrop of regional and international cooperation and on the basis of recognised international standards."
ISO Secretary General Alan Bryden outlined his organisation's conformity assessment policy and future strategy.
Bryden stressed that international recognition and acceptance should be based on confidence and good practice.
He also underlined the importance of reaching a "double level of consensus, amongst countries and across stakeholders."
The regional workshop, which is coordinated with AIMDO and the UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), is intended to provide an opportunity to improve understanding of what is expected by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreements in relation to conformity assessment procedures.
Among such procedures are suppliers' declarations of conformity (SDoC), management systems and product certification, and methods for providing added confidence in conformity assessment results such as accreditation, peer assessment and mutual recognition arrangements.
Topics of the workshop include an array of issues such as the importance of conformity assessment in sustainable development and trade, inspection systems, product certification, peer assessment and accreditation-related issues, among others.
The International Standards Organisation (ISO) is a network of the national standards institutes of 156 countries with a central secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, that coordinates the system.
It is a non-governmental organisation: Its members are not, as is the case in the United Nations system, delegations of national governments. Nevertheless, ISO occupies a special position between the public and private sectors.
JISM is a full-fledged member of ISO since 2002.
By Mahmoud Al Abed
Jordan Times 2006
