Standardization News

Memorandum of Understanding Reports

MOU Partners from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Grenada and Saudi Arabia Note Progress

Initiated in 2001, ASTM International's memorandum of understanding program promotes communication between ASTM International and national standards bodies worldwide, fostering awareness of the standardization systems of all parties involved. The purpose of the program is to increase greater worldwide participation in the ASTM standards development process and facilitate the development of national standards that will aid health, safety, and environmental and economic conditions. More information on the MOU program can be found on the ASTM International website (www.astm.org/GLOBAL).

The national standards bodies of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Grenada and Saudi Arabia have recently submitted annual reports detailing their memorandum of understanding relationships with ASTM International.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Institute for Standardization of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BAS) signed an MOU with ASTM International in 2002.

BAS prepares and publishes the national standards of Bosnia and Herzegovina and represents Bosnia and Herzegovina in international, European and other interstate organizations for standardization. It prepares technical regulations, develops and establishes the information system of standards of Bosnia and Herzegovina and educates standards specialists.

This year, BAS adopted 12 ASTM International standards as identical standards, and 34 ASTM standards were referenced in regulations. All of the standards were petroleum standards from ASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants. The equivalent BAS committee is BAS/TC11 on Petroleum and Petroleum Derivatives.

Dejana Bogdanovic, head of unit at the Institute for Standardization of Bosnia and Herzegovina, says that BAS will continue to adopt ASTM International standards and utilize other benefits of the MOU program in the future.

Grenada

ASTM International and the Grenada Bureau of Standards signed a memorandum of understanding in 2008.

Established in 1989, GDBS is a corporate body within the Ministry of Finance, Trade and Industry that oversees national standards, provides for the testing and calibration of precision instruments, encourages standardization in commerce and trade, and offers standards-related consultation services to government and industry. The bureau is divided into five divisions: administration and finance, certification, implementation, standardization and materials testing.

Grenada currently has 139 national standards, 39 of which are mandatory by law. GDBS referenced 47 ASTM International standards this year in the preparation of Grenada national standards. The referenced standards were developed by ASTM Committees C01 on Cement and C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and were used for Grenada's building component standards, which cover topics such as Portland cement and ready-mixed concrete.

Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) signed a memorandum of understanding with ASTM International in 2007.

As the sole standardization body in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, SASO is responsible for the development and approval of Saudi national standards for services, facilities, utilities and products.

SASO adopted 314 ASTM standards as identical Saudi standards this year. The majority of these standards are related to petroleum and roofing, and were developed by ASTM Committees D02 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants and D08 on Roofing and Waterproofing. Since 2007, SASO has adopted nearly 2,000 ASTM standards as Saudi standards and more than 350 ASTM standards for Saudi building codes.

More than 200 technical professionals from Saudi Arabia are participating members on one or more of ASTM International's 142 technical committees through the MOU program.

H.E. Nabil Ameen Molla, governor of SASO, says the organization has taken advantage of ASTM's experience to strengthen and develop Saudi standards related to health, safety and the environment through the MOU program. "Significant cooperation between SASO and ASTM contributes to the development of Saudi standards and supports our country's growth and expectations," says Molla.