newsletter of the south asian regional standards...

Volume 2| Issue 04| October – December 2016

Newsletter of the South Asian Regional Standards Organization

A Specialized Body of SAARC

Editorial Committee

Dr. Syed Humayun Kabir Director General

Mr. Indu Bikram Joshi Mr. Tashi Wangchuk

Mr. Khawja Gulam Mohiuddin

South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO) Secretariat 116/A, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208, Bangladesh

Tel: +88 02 8878130, Fax: +88 02 8878131 E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.sarso.org.bd

tel:+88%2002%208878130

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.sarso.org.bd/


CELEBRATION OF THIRTY SECOND SAARC CHARTER DAY

The South Asian Regional Standards Organization

(SARSO) observed the Thirty Second SAARC Charter

Day on 11 December 2016 at SARSO Secretariat, Dhaka

to express its solidarity. The Honorable State Minister,

H.E. Mr. Md. Shahriar Alam, M P, Ministry of Foreign

Affairs, Government of Bangladesh graced the

occasion as the Chief Guest. Honorable Secretary

General of SAARC, H.E. Mr. Arjun Bahadur Thapa, Mr.

Sushen Chandra Das, Additional Secretary, Ministry of

Industries, Mr. Saiful Hasib, Director General,

Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI)

and Mr. Tareq Ahmed, Director General, (SAARC &

BIMSTEC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs were Special

Guests on this occasion. Senior officials of Embassies

and High Commissions of SAARC Member States in

Bangladesh, senior Government officials from different

Ministries, Government and Semi Government

Organizations, Business leaders of the Private Sectors

and other distinguished invitees from national and

international organizations were also present.

Dr. Syed Humayun Kabir, Director General, SARSO

welcomed the dignitaries present in the event. His

Excellency, Mr. Arjun Bahadur Thapa in his speech

appreciated SARSO for celebration of thirty-second

SAARC Charter Day successfully. On this occasion, Mr.

Tareq Ahmed, Director General, (SAARC & BIMSTEC),

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Saiful Hasib, Director

General, BSTI and Mr. Sushen Chandra Das highlighted

the importance of SARSO and harmonized Standards in

Dr. Selim Raihan, Professor of University of Dhaka &

Executive Director-SANEM and Mr. Indu Bikram Joshi,

Director SARSO presented key note paper on Non-

Tariff Measures (NTM) and SARSO-harmonization of

standards respectively. Mr. Joshi informed that, SARSO

has finalized seven SAARC Standards on Food and

Textiles related and adopted four ISO Standards as

SAARC Standards related to building materials. He also

mentioned that, SARSO has signed Cooperation

H.E. Mr. Md. Shahriar Alam, M P, Honorable State Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of

Bangladesh

H.E. Mr. Arjun Bahadur Thapa Honorable Secretary General SAARC (right) and H.E. Mr. Md. Shahriar Alam,

M P, Honorable State Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Bangladesh (left)

Dr. Syed Humayun Kabir, Director

General, SARSO


Agreements with ISO and IEC and more agreements

are in process of signing with other

international/regional bodies. Finally, the Chief Guest,

Honorable State Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

The Government of Bangladesh, Mr. Md. Shahriar

Alam, MP, in his speech highlighted that South Asia is

embedded with ample resources and opportunities. He

further stated that with the market of about 1.7 billion

in South Asia many challenges are foreseen. He

mentioned that, he has full confidence through

concerted efforts to cope with the challenges. He

recommended SARSO to move in a strategic and

smarter way so that its contributions are efficient and

effective.

SARSO IN THE IEC GENERAL MEETING 2016

The 80th

International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC) General Meeting 2016 was held from 10-14

October 2016 in the German city of Frankfurt,

focused strongly on the digitalization of

modern world. On the invitation of IEC

Secretary General, Director General of

SARSO, Dr. Syed Humayun Kabir as a head of

delegate and Mr. Khawja Gulam Mohiuddin,

Deputy Director, SARSO as a delegate

attended the 80th

IEC General Meeting. During

the IEC General Meeting, SARSO delegation attended several meetings and workshops that includes,

Opening Ceremony of 80th

IEC General Meeting, 157th

Meeting of Standardization Management Board

(SMB) of IEC, Inauguration of Reinvention Laboratory in Frankfurt, IEC Affiliate Forum, Break out

session – Discussion on Asia Pacific, IEC-Affiliate Forum, Workshop for Industrializing Countries QI and

renewable energy system, Council Statutory Session & Council Discussion Session. The outcome of the

80th

IEC General Meeting and associated meetings that SARSO have learned after participation was that

IEC should create open platforms for networking of interest groups and manage the collaboration with

other SDOs and consortia in order to play a leading role in the standardization of future cross-domain

topics; The IEC, as the home of industry, should provide future-oriented digital standardization processes

and tools; The IEC should develop itself and the whole community to become the leading provider of

digital standards and services; The IEC should expand its platform for globally acknowledged conformity

assessment systems in close cooperation with international and regional regulators such as WTO, UNECE,

the EU Commission and others; The IEC should closely collaborate with its national committees to jointly

develop new business models for the profitable marketing of digital standards and services; etc.

SARSO delegates also met with Director IEC-APRC for developing Action Plan on MoU signed between

SARSO and IEC. Ms. Claire Marchand, Communication Officer, from IEC also arranged a session for

taking interview of Director General, SARSO about SARSO activities, its objectives and functions, its

achievement and future strategy.

IEC AND


SARSO AND IEC SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT

The SARSO and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) signed Cooperation Agreement on 09 October, 2016 in Frankfurt, Germany during the 80th IEC General Meeting. Mr. Frans Vreeswijk General Secretary and CEO of IEC and Dr. Syed Humayun Kabir, Director General of SARSO signed the agreement on behalf of their organizations. The agreement was signed to strengthen the

cooperation between IEC and SARSO in a number of

areas, covering especially cross representation and

exchange of information. The main purpose of the

cooperation Agreement between two organizations is

to promote the development, use and adoption of IEC

International Standards as well as the use of IEC

Conformity Assessment Systems in response to market

demands, and thus to facilitate world trade. Through

the cooperation Agreement, both the organizations

will consider the possibility of developing a joint

activity programme.

SARSO PARTICIPATES IN CHINA-SOUTH ASIA STANDARDIZATION

COOPERATION CONFERENCE

The SARSO officials attended the China-South Asia

Standardization Cooperation Conference organized

by the Chengdu Institute of Standardization,

Chengdu, Sichuan, China from 04-05 November 2016

in Chengdu, China. The main objective of the China

South Asia Standardization forum was sharing of

experiences and progress in industrial

standardization so as to promote Standardization

exchanges and multilateral economies and trade

collaborations for common advancement and

success between China and South Asia. Mr. Abdullah

Mohamed, Honorable Deputy Minister Ministry of

Economic Development (MoED), Maldives, Mr.

Maheel Ali Jaleel , Program Manager, MoED,

Maldives, Mr. Bishwo Babu Pudasaini, Director

General, Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology

(NBSM), Mr. Subarna Prasad Upadhyaya, Director,

NBSM, Ms. Chamaree Radha Geeganage, Assistant

Director, Sri Lanka Standards Institution, Mr. Akhtar

Ahmad Bughio, Director and Mr. Gulam Umar Kaji,

Secretary, Pakistan Standards and Quality Control

Authority attended the conference.

Mr. Frans Vreeswijk General Secretary & CEO of IEC and Dr. Syed

Humayun Kabir, Director General SARSO signing the agreement

Delegates of the China-South Asia Standardization Cooperation Conference


Mr. Tian Rong, Vice Mayor of Chengdu, Dr. Zhang Xiaogang, President of ISO, Mr. Tian Shihong, Administrator of

SAC, Mr. Guo Hui, Vice Administrator of SAC, Dr. Syed Humayun Kabir, Director General of SARSO were present

during the inauguration ceremony.

During the conference, presentations were delivered in areas of small cities, low carbon emissions and

environment conservation, tea, public services, post disaster reconstruction, traditional medicines,

Standardization and Non Tariff Barriers and others. SARSO delivered a presentation on its role in reducing the

Technical Barriers to Trade in South Asia.

The SARSO also had sideline Meeting with the

Standards Administration of China (SAC) and

discussed on possible mutual cooperation and

collaboration and the agreement between SARSO

and the SAC. SARSO officials met with Mr. Tian

Shihong, Administrator, Mr. Guo Hui, Vice

Administrator, Ms. Li Yubing, Director General,

International Cooperation Department and other

officials of SAC.

Earlier, Dr. Syed Humayun Kabir, Director General, SARSO attended the 7th South Asia- Sichuan Business

Promotion Round-Table Conference hosted by China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT-Sichuan)

in Chengdu, China on 03 November 2016. The conference was organized with an objective to promote economic

and trade cooperation between Chengdu and South Asian countries, while integrating opportunities associated

with China’s new Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. The Director General and SARSO

officials also attended the roundtable meeting of the 7th South Asia- Sichuan Business Promotion Round-Table

Conference in the morning session of 04 November 2016.

SARSO ATTENDS THE CRB’S 3RD ANNUAL CONFERENCE, ‘INDIA AND SUSTAINABILITY

STANDARDS 2016’

Dr. Syed Humayun Kabir, Director General, SARSO attended the three day annual Centre for Responsible

Business (CRB) conference ‘India and Sustainability Standards: International Dialogues and Conference,

2016’. The conference was organized at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, India from 16-18 November

2016 to discuss and deliberate on the diverse issues for sustainable and responsible growth, with the

SARSO with SAC Officials

Dr. Syed Humayun Kabir, Director General, SARSO during

the inaugural session

7th South Asia- Sichuan Business Promotion Round-Table Conference

in session


Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a central theme. The Honourable Minister for Railways, India

Shri Suresh Prabhu inaugurated the conference. The event was supported by 60 partner organizations,

co-hosting 27 sessions with over 160 speakers.

SARSO PARTICIPATES IN ISO 14001:2015 TOT PROGRAMME

Under the programme on ‘Trade promotion through

Standardization’, supported by the Swedish

International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)

and implemented by the Swedish Standards Institute

(SIS) supported by SIDA/SIS, the officials of SARSO

participated the training on Environmental

Management System (based on ISO 14001:2015) and

Life Cycle Analysis held in Bangkok, Thailand, 31

October – 03 November 2016. Eight countries

participated in the programme, including Cambodia,

Laos, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka

and Pakistan.

ISO 14001:2015 specifies the requirements for an

environmental management system that an

organization can use to enhance its environmental

performance. ISO 14001:2015 is intended for use by an

organization seeking to manage its environmental

responsibilities contributing to environmental

sustainability. ISO 14001:2015 helps an organization

achieve the intended outcomes of its environmental

management system, which provide value for the

environment, the organization itself and interested

parties. Earlier, Mr. Indu Bikram Joshi attended the

SESA steering committee Meeting from 27-28 October

2016 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Training in Session

India and Sustainability Standards: International Dialogues and Conference, 2016


TRAINING PROGRAMME ON ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STANDARDS

ISO14001:2015

The Secretariat of SARSO conducted in-house training

programme on International Standards ISO 14001:2015

- Environmental management systems -- Requirements

with guidance for use on 12 November 2016 at Envoy

Textiles Ltd. which is a leading manufacturer and

exporter of high quality fashion denim in Bangladesh.

ISO 14001 is one of the most well known and widely

implemented standards. It is used worldwide by large

and small businesses and organizations, in public and

private sectors, by manufacturers and service

providers, and in all sectors of activity. The main

objective of the training was to sensitize on the specific

requirements of ISO 14001:2015 and to help Envoy

Textiles Ltd. in transitioning from ISO 14001:2004 to

ISO 14001:2015 version. During the training course,

Professionals of SARSO presented the key changes

between ISO 14001:2004 and ISO 14001:2015, Specific

new requirements relating to Context, Leadership,

Planning, Support and Operation, factors to consider

when implementing them, new and revised terms and

definitions applicable to ISO 14001:2015, as well as key

concepts such as process approach and lifecycle

perspective. The training was participated by 24

technical staffs of Envoy Textiles Ltd.

INTERACTIVE SESSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STANDARDS

ISO14001:2015

The SARSO organized interactive session on ISO 14001:2015 on 14 November 2016 at SARSO Secretariat. The main

objectives of the interactive session were for sharing of information on ISO 14001:2015 to the stakeholders, finding

Interactive Program in session


interested organization to implement ISO 14001:2015 and

also to seek partnership with stakeholders in different

Standards.

The participants included, representatives from NGOs,

industries, BSTI and Chambers. The resource persons

were from SARSO, Dr. Solaiman Haider, Director

Department of Environment and Mr. Tauhidul Islam,

Envoy Textiles. The representative from the Department

of Environment was invited to present on the legal

requirements related to the Environment and the representative from Envoy textiles was invited to present on the

benefits and challenges faced while implementing ISO 14001.

USAID VISITS SARSO

A team of officials from Chemonics, USAID Contractor

visited SARSO on 06 December 2016. Mr. Stephen P.

Wade, Former Member of the Board and Chief of

Party, Ms. Isaiah Oliver, Deputy Chief of Party, Mr.

Heather Tomlins, Operations Director, Ms. Michelle

Grimaldi, Associate visited SARSO Secretariat and

held discussion on capacity development needs and

assistance required on implementation of

Multilateral Arrangement on Recognition of

Conformity Assessment (MARCA).

SEGA NEWS

The South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO) congratulates

Mr. Gamini Dharmawardana for assuming the post of Director General of Sri Lanka Standards Institution

(SLSI), Sri Lanka

The South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO) congratulates

Mr. Md. Saiful Hasib for assuming the post of Director General, Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution,

(BSTI), Bangladesh

SARSO with USAID Officials

Interactive Program in session


SEGA NEWS

FIFTH SEGA MEETING HD IN DHAKA, BANGLADESH

The Fifth SEGA Meeting was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh from 8-9 October 2016 followed by a national awareness

workshop on 10 October 2016. The Meeting was organized by Bangladesh Accreditation Board with the financial and

technical assistance from PTB-Germany. The Meeting aimed to facilitate a mutual update on developments in

accreditation on national, regional and international level, discuss and strengthen the role and contributions of SEGA in

supporting the mutual recognition of conformity assessment in SAARC and to provide a forum to review and follow up

on project activities to develop capacities in accreditation within the framework of SAARC-PTB MoU. The delegates from

SAARC Secretariat, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka attended the Meeting. Mr. Md. Abu

Abdullah, Director General, Bangladesh Accreditation Board (BAB) as the host of the Fifth SEGA Meeting Chaired the

Meeting.

Mr. Md. Abu Abdullah, Director General, Bangladesh

Accreditation Board (BAB) welcomed the delegates to

the Meeting and wished for fruitful deliberations. As

per SAARC procedure, the Meeting was opened by Ms.

L. Savithri, Director (ETF), SAARC Secretariat. Ms.

Savithri announced that the SAARC Agreement of

Multilateral Arrangement for Recognition of Conformity

Assessment (MARCA) has now been ratified by the

parliament of Nepal and will soon be notified and

hoped for operationalization of MARCA. Dr. Christian

Starz, Project Coordinator, PTB in his remarks mentioned that, the SAARC and PTB had signed the MoU ten years back

to develop networking and to build capacity of the SAARC Member States in areas of Metrology, Standards, Testing

and Quality (MSTQ). He stated that the current phase would end in March 2017 and requested the Members to take

this meeting as opportunity to evaluate the challenges faced and review the achievements made so far. Mr. Indu

Bikram Joshi, Director, SARSO Secretariat in his remarks thanked BAB for hosting the Meeting, PTB for financial and

technical assistance, Dr. Christian Starz, project coordinator for his hard work in coordinating and delegates from the

Member States for participation.

Delegates of SEGA with H.E Mr. Amir Hossain Amu, M.P, Honorable Minister, Ministry of Industries, Government of Bangladesh

Ms. L. Savithri, Director - ETF SAARC (left) Mr. Md. Abu Abdullah, Director

General, BAB (centre) Dr. Christian Starz, Project Coordinator, PTB (right)


On the second day of the Meeting, the Honorable

Minister for the Ministry of Industries Mr. Amir

Hossain Amu, M.P graced the Meeting. In his

statement, he thanked the delegates of the SAARC

Member States for attending the Meeting. He hoped

the Meeting would find appropriate means in

achieving the goal of knowledge based

industrialization in the SAARC region. He stated that,

the South Asia having high potential for trade

promotion would achieve sustained economic growth.

He highlighted the importance of focusing more on

para-tariff and non tariff measures as they held key to

trade liberalization. He also reiterated Government of

Bangladesh’s commitment towards regional

connectivity and economic integration. The Honorable

Minister in his conclusion wished the Fifth Meeting of

SEGA a milestone in strengthening quality

infrastructure among the Member countries.

NATIONAL AWARENESS TRAINING FOR REGULATORS HELD IN DHAKA, BANGLADESH

The National Awareness Training for Regulators was held

on 10 October 2016 in Dhaka, Bangladesh with the

financial assistance from PTB-Germany aimed at creating

awareness to relevant stakeholders on quality

infrastructure and accreditation. Mr. Anil Jauhri, CEO

NABCB, India, Mr. Hanspeter Ischi, PTB expert, Engr. M.

Liaquat Ali, FAO Consultant & Former DG BAB, Ms. Ismat

Gul Khattak, DG PNAC, Mr. Indu Bikram Joshi, Director

SARSO and Mr. Nasirul Islam, Dy. Director BAB delivered

the presentations on accreditation and quality

infrastructure related subjects. The presenters

emphasized the need of application of accredited

Conformity Assessment Result and Standards in the

technical regulations. The Members from SAARC Expert

Group on Accreditation (SEGA), representatives from

SAARC Secretariat, Regional Chamber of Commerce and

Industries, South Asian Regional Standards Organization

(SARSO) and regulatory bodies and stakeholders in

Bangladesh participated in the programme.

Delegates, experts and participants of the National Awareness Training for Regulators


AWARENESS TRAINING PROGRAMME ON HALAL HELD IN DHAKA, BANGLADESH

An Awareness Training Programme on HALAL was held

on 11 October 2016 in Dhaka, Bangladesh with the

financial assistance from PTB-Germany aimed at

providing better understanding of Halal products and

services as well as creating awareness among the

stakeholders. The Bangladesh Accreditation Board (BAB)

in collaboration with SARSO Secretariat organized the

day-long event. Mr. A. M. Badrudduja, Secretary,

Ministry of Food was the chief guest at the function

chaired by Mr. Abu Abdullah, Director General, BAB.

Mr. A. M. Badrudduja emphasized on harmonization of

Halal Standards and conformity assessment system and

development of appropriate strategies to face the

challenges and take the opportunities from global Halal

markets. He added that at present, Bangladesh has good

quality infrastructure to develop Halal accreditation and

certification schemes. Dr. Khizir Hayet Khan, Director

Islamic Foundation, Mohammad Golam Kibria, Founder,

iota Consulting BD, Ms Ismat Gul Khattak, Director

General, Pakistan National Accreditation Council, Mr.

Kbd. Golam. Md. Sarwar, Bangladesh Standards and

Testing Institution and Mr. Mohammed Abbas Alam, BAB

were the experts and presented the current status,

challenges, prospect of Halal products & services,

harmonization & unification on Halal Standards and

practices. The forum also exchanged views and

experience on Halal certification, products and process.

The Members from SAARC Expert Group on

Accreditation (SEGA), regional Chamber of Commerce

and Industries, South Asian Regional Standards

Organization (SARSO), regulatory bodies of Bangladesh

and relevant stakeholders in Bangladesh participated in

the programme.

Awareness Training in session


METROLOGY NEWS

FIFTH COORDINATION MEETING ON REGIONAL COOPERATION IN METROLOGY,

THIMPHU, BHUTAN

The Fifth Coordination Meeting on Regional

Cooperation in Metrology was held in Thimphu,

Bhutan and was organized by Bhutan Standards

Bureau on 13-14 October 2016 with the financial

assistance of PTB-Germany and technical assistance of

National Physical Laboratory (NPL), India. The

Coordination Meeting was aimed to provide a forum

for mutual update on developments in scientific

metrology on national and regional level and for a

discussion of the progress made since the last

Coordination Meeting and to review, adapt and

update the activities and frame coordination

mechanisms in metrology for the next phase of the

project. Members from Afghanistan, Bangladesh,

Bhutan, India, Maldives and Nepal, SAARC Secretariat,

SARSO Secretariat, PTB-Germany, PTB consultant and

project evaluators participated in the Meeting.

Mr. Sonam Phuntsho, Director General of the Bhutan

Standards Bureau (BSB) thanked and welcomed the Chief

Guest, Mr. Singye Dorji, Director General of Department

of SAARC and Regional Organization, Ministry of Foreign

Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan for gracing the

inauguration ceremony and the delegates from SAARC

Member States. Mr. Phuntsho committed full support to

the planned SAARC-PTB Metrology activities and

conveyed his appreciation to the PTB-Germany for its

generous financial and technical assistance extended to

develop Metrology both at national and regional level.

Ms. L. Savithri, Director, Economic, Trade and Finance,

SAARC Secretariat in her address expressed her

appreciation to the Chief Guest Director General of the

Department of SAARC and Regional Organization, Bhutan

for his presence in the inauguration ceremony. She

thanked the PTB-Germany for its constant assistance to

the forum which has been successful and looked forward

for continuous support. She also highlighted about PTB’s

assistance in legal metrology, an important component

in the SAARC region. Mr. Daniel Bohme, PTB in his

address, mentioned that the Fifth Regional Coordination

Meeting in Metrology would be the last Meeting of the

SAARC-PTB project. He stated that the budget has

completely been spent and had implemented many

components during the phase of project. Mr. Tashi

Wangchuk, Deputy Director, SARSO in his address

expressed his gratitude to PTB-Germany for its

Delegates with the Chief Guest Mr. Singye Dorji, Director General, Department of SAARC and Regional Organization, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bhutan


continuous support, PTB Consultant for coordination,

delegates for their participation and BSB for organizing

and hosting the event. He requested the Members to

reflect back the achievements of the project and plan for

the next phase accordingly. He also thanked the National

Physical Laboratory, India for their continuous technical

assistance to the other National Metrology Institutes in

the region. Mr. Singye Dorji, Director General of

Department of SAARC and Regional Organization,

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bhutan in his inaugural

address welcomed the delegates of the Fifth

Coordination Meeting in Metrology. He stated that the

coordination Meeting provided the right platform for

knowledge sharing in the field of Metrology. He urged

the Members to take into considerations the scientific,

technical and financial capacity of each Member States in

better position to support the others to bring balanced

development in the SAARC region.

The Meeting recapitulated the project activities undertaken since October 2015, had discussion on regional cooperation

opportunities beyond the project scope and planning the future activities. The delegates also visited the Bhutan

Standards Bureau laboratories and attended cultural tour in Thimphu organized by BSB.

Chief Guest Mr. Singye Dorji, Director General, Department of SAARC and Regional Organization, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bhutan during the inauguration session

Meeting in session


The South Asian Regional Standards

Organization

(SARSO)

wishes you a very prosperous, joyful

Happy New Year

newsletter of the south asian regional standards...

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