Standards and Metrology Board Approves and Updates 115 New Standards
Standards and Metrology Board Approves and Updates 115 New Palestinian Standards
On Thursday, May 4, 2023, the first meeting of the Board of Directors of the Palestinian Standards and Metrology Institute for the year 2023 was held, chaired by the Minister of National Economy and Chairman of the Board, Mr. Khaled Al-Asili, and attended by the Director General of the Institute, Eng. Haider Hajjeh.
During the meeting, several important topics were discussed, aimed at enhancing national industry and increasing its competitiveness in both local and international markets.
The Board approved 55 new Palestinian standards and updated 42 existing standards in various sectors, including construction materials, cosmetics, food products, textiles and clothing, medical devices and supplies, metallic materials, electrotechnical products, agricultural facilities, animal feed, plastics, furniture, and personal protective equipment.
Additionally, the Board ratified 58 Palestinian standards that had been reviewed and reapproved for continued validity, and approved the cancellation of 18 standards as recommended by the technical committees, following the five-year review cycle in accordance with the Institute’s standards development guidelines.
The Board also recommended assigning regulatory and inspection responsibilities to relevant authorities for the enforcement of mandatory technical regulations. Specifically:
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The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of National Economy were designated as the authorities responsible for enforcing:
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Technical Regulation No. 103/2022 on fruit jam, jelly, marmalade, and sweetened chestnut purée,
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Technical Regulation No. 104/2023 on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food,
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Technical Regulation No. 106/2023 on toy safety.
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The Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Interior, and Ministry of National Economy were designated as authorities for enforcing:
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Technical Regulation No. 105/2023 on simple pressure vessels.
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The Board also decided to submit the Institute's Annual Report for 2022 to the Council of Ministers. The report highlights the Institute's activities and accomplishments for the past fiscal year. The Board commended the Institute’s performance, noting a 14% increase in activities and achievements compared to 2021.
The Board further approved the Institute’s 2023 Operational Plan, which was developed in alignment with the National Policy Agenda. The Institute's goals were mapped to the national strategic framework, including the 2023–2029 Strategic Plan, cluster development strategies (industrial and agricultural), and the National Quality Policy implementation plan.
Moreover, the Board ratified updated guidelines for the development of Palestinian standards, ensuring alignment with international best practices and WTO agreement requirements.
The Board also approved an amendment to the preservative content limits in hummus, mutabbal, and baba ghanoush salads, following a review by the Technical Regulations Committee and its Food Products Working Group.
Finally, the Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the Institute and Birzeit University, aimed at fostering partnership, integration, and enhanced cooperation in service of the public interest.