The Board of Directors of Standards and Metrology approves 73 Palestinian standards and strengthens the national quality system.
Ramallah – The Board of Directors of the Palestinian Standards and Metrology Institution held its first meeting for the year 2026, chaired by the Minister of Industry, Mr. Arafat Asfour, and attended by the Vice Chairman of the Board and President of the General Union of Industries, Mr. Nassar Nassar, the Director General of the Institution, Dr. Haidar Hajja, and members of the Board.
During the meeting, the Board discussed a number of strategic issues aimed at supporting national industry and enhancing the competitiveness of Palestinian products in both local and international markets. It also emphasized encouraging producers to comply with quality standards and raising the level of safety in national products, contributing to strengthening consumer confidence in Palestinian goods.
As part of developing the quality infrastructure, the Board approved (73) Palestinian standards, including (56) new standards and (17) updated ones. These covered several vital sectors, most notably: construction products, food, cosmetics, medical devices, textiles, electrotechnical products, petroleum derivatives, furniture, personal protective equipment, tobacco, footwear, metals, fuel equipment and fire safety, information and communication technologies, medical laboratories, agricultural products and crops, surfactants, plastic pipes and their fittings, paints and varnishes, plastics, in addition to other industrial and agricultural fields.
The Board also reviewed the outcomes of the standardization committees’ work since the beginning of 2026, noting that (84) Palestinian standards had been reviewed. Of these, (34) standards were referred for updating or renewal, reflecting the ongoing direction toward developing the national standards system, while the validity of (50) standards was extended.
Furthermore, the Board recommended designating the competent authorities responsible for monitoring and inspecting the mandatory technical regulation No. (124-2026), related to the mandatory fortification of specific food products, to include the Ministry of National Economy, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Health.
In the same context, the Board recommended that the Ministry of National Economy, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Industry be considered the competent authorities for monitoring and inspecting the implementation of mandatory technical regulation No. (125-2026), concerning the reduction of salt content in bread. This comes as part of supporting national efforts to promote public health and improve the quality of food products.
Additionally, the Board reviewed the draft annual report of the Institution’s activities for 2025, which showed a notable growth rate of (18%) compared to 2024. The report indicated that the total number of services provided exceeded (30,873), including (10,386) tests conducted, (1,081) standards reviewed and updated, and (10,112) devices calibrated. This growing performance reflects the expansion of the Institution’s scope of work, the strengthening of its technical and regulatory efficiency, and the increasing importance of its role in supporting various economic sectors and enhancing the quality of products and services in the local market.
This meeting comes as part of the Institution’s commitment to developing the national standardization system and keeping pace with international best practices, in a way that enhances the quality of Palestinian products and increases their competitiveness across different markets.
