On World Standards Day, Board of Directors of the Palestinian Standards and Metrology Institution Approves 99 Palestinian Standards

1. Ramallah – In conjunction with World Standards Day, the Board of Directors of the Palestinian Standards and Metrology Institution approved 99 new and updated Palestinian standards during its third meeting of 2026. This step aims to support the development of the national quality infrastructure, protect consumers, and enhance the competitiveness of Palestinian products in local and international markets.
2. The meeting was chaired by H.E. Arafat Asfour, Minister of Industry and Chairman of the Board, and attended by Dr. Haidar Hijjeh, Director General of the Institution, along with members of the Board. The meeting discussed several issues related to the development of standards and services, support for productive sectors, and the expansion of international recognition of the Institution’s certificates. Holding the meeting on this occasion underscores the practical role of standards in enhancing product quality and safety, keeping pace with technological developments, and facilitating trade.
3. The approved standards included 42 new standards and 57 updated standards, covering the food and construction sectors, cosmetics, medical devices and laboratories, textiles, electrotechnical products, petroleum derivatives, furniture, personal protective equipment, tobacco, footwear, metals, fuel equipment, fire safety, and information and communication technologies. They also covered agricultural products and crops, surfactants, plastic pipes and fittings, paints and varnishes, plastics, animal feed, and other industrial and agricultural fields.
4. The Board reviewed the work of the standards committees from the beginning of the current year up to the date of the meeting. The committees had reviewed 416 Palestinian standards and recommended updating or renewing most of them, maintaining the validity of 40 standards, and cancelling one standard. This review forms part of the Institution’s periodic efforts to ensure that standards keep pace with technical developments and the needs of productive sectors.
5. The Board also reviewed the cumulative report on implementation of the Institution’s executive plan through the end of the third quarter of 2026, including progress in implementing its programmes and projects and developing its services. The Board commended the Institution’s staff for their performance in implementing the approved plans.

Organic Agriculture

1. Regarding the agricultural sector, the Board reviewed the Palestinian organic agriculture framework, which aims to regulate and develop the sector, enhance the quality and safety of organic products, protect the environment and biodiversity, and improve access for Palestinian agricultural products to target markets.
2. The Board discussed a detailed report on the mechanism for granting organic agriculture certificates, addressing the proposed institutional and technical arrangements for issuing Palestinian certification under this framework. The Board approved the Institution’s system for granting organic agriculture certificates.

International Recognition of Halal Certification

1. As part of its follow-up on cooperation and international recognition initiatives previously announced by the Institution, the Board reviewed the recognition granted by Malaysia’s Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM), which recognizes the Institution as an approved body for issuing halal certificates in Palestine.
2. The scope of this recognition includes food products and beverages, raw materials, cosmetics and personal care products, and pharmaceutical products.
3. The Board discussed the importance of this recognition in facilitating access to foreign markets for Palestinian products holding halal certificates. It also reviewed efforts to build on the partnership with the Palestinian Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture and the International Chamber of Commerce in Palestine, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), under the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s Single Market Initiative.
4. The Board also followed up on developments concerning the proposed cooperation and mutual recognition agreement with Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) and the efforts being made to finalize it. The agreement aims to reduce technical barriers to halal product trade, strengthen commercial exchange, and expand opportunities for Palestinian products.

Mutual Recognition Agreements and Export Opportunities

1. The Board also discussed follow-up on the implementation of the mutual recognition agreement with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, as well as the identification of target countries for mutual recognition in 2027. Work will be undertaken to sign mutual recognition agreements with these countries to facilitate the export of Palestinian products to their markets.
2. The Board emphasized the importance of continuing to develop the national quality infrastructure, strengthening coordination among relevant institutions, and aligning the development of standards and services with the needs of productive sectors. These efforts aim to support national industry, protect consumers, and expand opportunities for Palestinian products to access international markets.
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