Standardization News

In recent reports, the national standards bodies of Peru and Qatar outlined the ongoing success of the memorandums of understanding that each signed with ASTM International.

Peru's Instituto Nacional de Defensa de la Competencia y de la Protección de la Propiedad Intelectual (INDECOPI) has adopted several ASTM International standards though the ASTM memorandum of understanding program. INDECOPI signed an MOU with ASTM in 2003.

INDECOPI works to promote fair and honest competition in the Peruvian economy and to protect consumers' rights and intellectual property such as trademarks, copyrights and patents. Services within INDECOPI include the National Accreditation System, the Citizen Service and the National Metrology System, which is responsible for protecting and maintaining Peruvian national standards.

Since 2003, Peru has adopted, adapted or referenced hundreds of ASTM International standards in a variety of sectors, including steel, cement, metals, building construction, textiles, paint, petroleum and more. This year, INDECOPI reports that an additional 33 ASTM standards covering cement, concrete and petroleum were adopted as identical Peruvian national standards. In addition, ten ASTM standards were adopted as equivalent Peruvian standards and more than 120 ASTM standards were used as reference documents.

INDECOPI and ASTM have maintained a strong relationship since signing their MOU agreement. As a benefit of the MOU program, technical experts from any of the countries where MOUs have been signed can participate freely as full voting members in the ASTM standards development process. More than 300 Peruvians participate on one or more of ASTM's 142 technical committees.

The Qatar General Organization for Standards and Metrology (QS) signed an MOU with ASTM International in 2007. The QS Standards and Metrology Department prepares Qatar national standards and adopts international standards to be used as national standards for health, safety and the environment.

This year, QS referenced 233 ASTM International standards in Qatar regulations. The referenced standards cover plastics, plastic piping systems, and concrete and concrete aggregates. Several technical experts from Qatar participate on one or more of ASTM's 142 standards development committees, and QS has participated in various ASTM technical training programs through the MOU program.

In late 2011, Sarah Naouri, manager, global cooperation, ASTM, and Nick Ecart, director of international sales, Europe, Middle East and Africa, ASTM, participated in a ASTM-QS sponsored program at the Ministry of Environment in Doha, Qatar.

This spring, Jabor Mohamed Al-Naimi, head of mechanical standards at QS, will participate in the ASTM Standards Expert Program, a key benefit offered to MOU signatories. Al-Naimi will travel to ASTM headquarters to learn more about ASTM International and its operations, ASTM technical committees and ASTM's virtual tools.

"Since the signing of the MOU in 2007 with ASTM International, cooperation and coordination has been in full swing," said Nawaf Ibrahim Al-Hamad Al-Mana, director of standards and metrology, QS. "ASTM's vast and resourceful collection of industry-leading standards and technical publications, as well as the tireless and sincere assistance of the ASTM Global Cooperation staff, have added a lot to QS's standardization performance."

Initiated in 2001, ASTM International's MOU program promotes communication between ASTM International and national standards bodies worldwide, fostering awareness of the standardization systems of all parties involved. More information about the MOU program can be found on the ASTM International website.