"Standards and Institution " Adopts 276 New Standards and Launches Development Pojects to Enhance the Quality of National Services and Products
Ramallah, 4 June 2025 – The Board of Directors of the Palestinian Standards and Institution (PSI) held its first meeting of 2025, chaired by the Minister of Industry, Mr. Arafat Asfour, with the participation of the institution’s Director General, Eng. Haydar Hajja, and board members. The meeting addressed a number of vital issues aimed at supporting national industries and enhancing competitiveness in both local and global markets.
The Board approved the adoption of 276 Palestinian standards, including 59 new standards and 217 updated ones, covering a wide range of sectors such as construction products, food, cosmetics, medical devices, textiles, electrotechnical products, petroleum derivatives, furniture, personal protective equipment, tobacco, footwear, and other industrial and agricultural fields.
In addition, the Board endorsed 134 standards that had undergone review, and approved the continued implementation of 125 standards based on recommendations from the technical committees.
Data from this year showed that the technical committees reviewed 1,097 Palestinian standards, recommending updates or renewals for 618 of them. This comes as part of the institution’s ongoing efforts to improve quality standards and develop the infrastructure of products and services.
Regarding technical regulations, the Board reviewed the Cabinet’s decision on the assignment of regulatory authorities. Technical Regulation No. 120-2024 concerning animal feed was assigned to the Ministries of Economy, Agriculture, and Industry; Regulation No. 121-2024 on medical devices to the Ministries of Health, Industry, and Economy; while Regulation No. 122-2024, related to the classification and labeling of substances and mixtures, was assigned to the Ministries of Health, Labor, Economy, and Industry, along with the Environmental Quality Authority.
During the session, the Board received the 2024 Annual Achievement Report of the institution in accordance with Article 13 of the Standards and Metrology Law. The report showed a 9% increase in service output compared to 2023, with the institution providing over 26,255 services during the year. Additionally, the first quarter report of the 2025 operational plan was circulated to Board members for review.
Eng. Haydar Hajja also informed the Board of the institution’s win of the “Best Creative Social Media Content” award in the industrial institutions category, granted by the Social Governments Award in Dubai. The award recognized the efforts of the Media and Public Relations Department in raising public awareness around quality and standards. The award was presented in an official ceremony on 24 April 2025, attended by more than 40 Arab governmental institutions.
The Board also discussed the “Ya Hala” System Project, a national initiative aimed at improving the quality of customer service in public and private institutions. The system is based on scientific standards for measuring performance, customer satisfaction, infrastructure quality, and services, drawing on international references such as ISO 9001 and Palestinian standards. It is designed to promote a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
Additionally, the Board reviewed the updated version of the product certification and labeling system for Palestinian products. This second edition was revised based on Article 22 of the Standards and Metrology Law to include modern technical requirements and feedback from Gulf accreditation bodies. A comparison between the first and second editions was presented in preparation for formal adoption within the conformity assessment framework.
In the spirit of strengthening institutional cooperation, the Board discussed a draft partnership agreement with the Industrial Cities Authority. The agreement aims to establish a joint quality control unit within the Jericho Industrial Zone, to improve quality infrastructure in the food industry sector, enhance technical testing capacities, and build workforce competencies. The agreement is based on both Palestinian and international standards, notably Palestinian Standard No. 15 and ISO 17025, and seeks to enable manufacturers and farmers to obtain both national and international certifications and labels, ultimately boosting product quality and competitiveness in local and regional markets.
These decisions and initiatives reflect the institution’s commitment to establishing a comprehensive national quality system that strengthens the reputation of Palestinian products and supports the national economy.