Harmonization of Egyptian Standards

Objectives

Standardization in its different aspects (standards, quality systems, testing, calibration, accreditation…) plays an important role in a country’s economy, hence was the interest in the  different aspects  standardization in general and standards in particular. International Standards gained their position in organizing and facilitating international trade through the WTO/TBT Agreement. It became necessary to recognize a product or service in the international markets through the standard on which they are based.

In order to promote Egyptian exports and to cope with international competition, products should conform to International Standards. Accordingly, the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality (EOS) was keen to implement, in collaboration with the Industrial Modernization Center (IMC), a project which aims at harmonizing  Egyptian  Standards (ESs) with international counterparts so that  Egyptian products can compete in foreign markets.

The harmonization process is based on  ISO/IEC Guide 21-1:2005 Regional or national adoption of International Standards and other International Deliverables -- Part 1: Adoption of International Standards, ISO/IEC Guide 21-2:2005 Regional or national adoption of International Standards and other International Deliverables -- Part 2: Adoption of International Deliverables other than International Standards, European Directives, and Egypt’s commitments toward WTO Agreements and in particular the TBT Agreement.

Considerations for the importance of harmonization with International Standards include:

-  Confidence among countries commercial exchange.

-   Promotion of Egyptian exports through developing confidence in the local product on the international level , which in turn increases  exports and opens new export markets.

-  Protection of exporters as well as importers.

-  Protection of consumers against products that do not conform to relevant standards.

-  Using the adoption method to provide approved standards for all products.

  To harmonize ESs is to have correspond texts, not necessarily equivalent, that  are comparable with relevant international Standards (ISs). However, ESs should not include items that contradict  ISs, bearing in mind that ISs often avoid detailed specifications of the final product. Hence, being not equivalent does not mean not harmonized. The WTO/TBT recognizes deviations in national standards from ISs for legitimate objectives such as health and safety, protection of the environment, and geographical and technological differences.

 From the harmonization point of view, national standards can be categorized as follows:

• Equivalent Standard (according to ISO Guide 21/2005).

• Modified Standard, with deviations identified and justified.

• A product standard that has no foreign or international equivalent.

Target Outputs of the Project:

• Development of a strategic plan for sustainability of issuing harmonized standards.

• Development of a harmonization manual and a Technical Regulations Guide.

• Harmonization of 3387 ESs (including 1000 new ESs).

• Translation of Mandatory standards (387) into English as well as translation of adopted standards into Arabic.

• Automation of the harmonized standards’ elaboration process, databases, and electronic catalogues.

• Promotion of the harmonized standards and their impact.

Achievements

 1- Harmonization of Standards

  - A number of 3387 ESs have been harmonized, classified as follows:

  - Engineering Industries:  1087 standards

  - Chemical Industries:  769 standards

  - Food Industries:  671 standards

  - Textile Industries:  391 standards

  - Measurements:  441 standards

  - Documentation:  38 standards

 2- Other activities carried out through the Project:

     1- Development of Guides and Manuals:

• Development of the “Harmonization Strategic Plan” which aims at ensuring sustainability and continuity of the harmonization process. This plan has been developed with the support of the Ex-President of AFNOR (standards body of France) and Ex-Vice President of ISO.

• Development of the “Harmonization Manual” based on ISO Guide 21/2005.

• Development of “Technical Regulations Guide” in the framework of the New Approach Directives.

       2- Training and Awareness:

•  Eight awareness sessions have been conducted for EOS staff and technical committees’ secretaries on the concepts and applications of  ISO Guide 21/2005.

• Three seminars have been held for stakeholders in various sectors (Engineering, Chemical, Food, and Textile Industries) on the applications of harmonization.

       3- Translation of standards and guides:

•  Translation of  ISO Guide 21/2005 and ISO Guide 59/1994.

• Translation of  30 harmonized mandatory standards, the rest being in the process of translation.

        4- Automation Activity:

• Upgrading EOS web site and inclusion of a link for harmonization.

• Transference to the electronic format for distribution of draft standards in the elaboration process and to EOS Board members in addition to an electronic store of harmonized standards.

         5- Other activities:

• Issuing 3 notifications to the WTO Central Secretariat on  harmonized mandatory standards in fulfillment of Egypt’s commitments toward WTO/TBT Agreement.

• Holding a number of meetings with the chambers of food and engineering industries to acquaint them with the objectives of the project and obtain feedback on the fields to be covered by harmonization.

• Issuing 3 Ministerial Decrees, 130, 423, 515/2005, to achieve:

             - compliance with international criteria in terms of adhering to health and safety requirement and at the same time granting

               manufacturers the freedom to reach high quality and creativity.

            - Applying European Directives to health and safety industries.

            - Allowing exportation according to international, European, and foreign standards or according to contract conditions subject to

              adherence to them.

A plan has been prepared  and approved to complete harmonization of the rest of ESs in collaboration with IMC as a second phase, which aims at:

• Harmonization of 1145 ESs.

• Issuing 1000 new ESs.

• Completing the translation of all mandatory standards into English.

• Restructuring EOS technical committees in compliance with ISO structure.

• Completing the automation of standards’ elaboration processes.

• Increasing EOS participation in the work of international technical committees.

Phase II - Current status:

1 – Harmonization of 939 Egyptian standards classified by sector as follows:

• Engineering Industries:  233 standards

• Chemical Industries:  293 standards

•  Food Industries:  215 standards

• Textile Industries:  122 standards

•  Measurements:  58 standards

• Documentation:  18 standards

2 – Issuing 695 new harmonized Egyptian standards classified by sector as follows:

• Engineering Industries:  255 standards

• Chemical Industries:  160 standards

• Food Industries:  94 standards

• Textile Industries:  54 standards

• Measurements:  122 standards

• Documentation:  10 standards

3 – Finalization of translation of about 50 mandatory harmonized Egyptian standards into English.

Upon completion of the project all Egyptian Standards will be harmonized with international / Foreign standards and all newly issued standards will follow the harmonization principles.