Business news

More than half of Belarus' national standards adopted in 2019 meet international requirements

MINSK, 9 October (BelTA) – In 2019, Belarus approved some 630 national standards (STB and GOST) and 60% of them have been harmonized with international requirements, First Deputy Chairperson of the State Committee for Standardization Irina Osmola said at a press conference held on 9 October to mark World Standards Day, BelTA has learned.

In some of the sectors this figure is reaching 75%. “Harmonization at 60-75% is a very good result for us. Other countries set forth a similar task,” Irina Osmola said.

In her words, there is no need to achieve 100%, since every economy develops in its own way. Belarus has stricter requirements in food industry. Many consumers praise the quality of Belarusian food products. “There are industries that, due to some subjective and objective reasons, cannot immediately reach the level of international standards, as significant investments in modernization are required. To adopt a standard that no one can apply is a useless task,” the first deputy chairperson of the State Committee for Standardization said.

In addition to the development of new standards, the scientific and technical level of the existing standards is assessed and a decision is made to amend or abolish them. This year, 292 irrelevant standards were abolished. “We started systematic work to analyze standards adopted before 1992. We are uniting our efforts in the area with our partners from Russia and Kazakhstan,” said Irina Osmola.

In her words, it is impossible to completely abandon the previous standards, as it will receive a huge public response.

A total of 595 themes made part of the state standardization plan for 2019. The draft plan for 2020 features 440 topics. New standards will concern wind turbines, cryogenic vessels, tank cars for the transportation of dangerous goods, machines and tractors, gas meters, steel and cast iron products, household appliances, food products, oil products, light industry goods, and others. There are plans to involve business community more actively in this work.    

Standards are needed across the planet as they are the most efficient and recognized document that sets requirements to products, services and processes. They contribute to the manufacturing of quality and competitive products, cost optimization.

print version

make home page

add to bookmarks