Application to Participate in African Standards Harmonization
Introduction
The African Organization for Standardization (ARSO) was established in 1977 by UNECA and OAU with the mandate to:
(a)harmonize national and/or sub-regional standards as African Standards and issue necessary recommendations to member bodies for this purpose;
(b)to promote social, industrial and economic development and provide consumer protection and human safety by advocating and establishing activities concerning standardization in Africa;
(c)initiate and co-ordinate the development of African Standards (ARS) with reference to products which are of strategic importance to Africa;
(d)promote and coordinate standardisation and conformity assessment practices in Africa;
(e)operate a regional certification marking scheme with a view to certifying the quality of and promoting African products;
(f)encourage and facilitate adoption of international standards by member bodies;
(g)encourage and facilitate the development by African countries of technical regulations to be based on African harmonised standards and/or international standards;
(h)promote and facilitate exchange of experts, information and co-operation in training of personnel in standardisation activities;
(i)promote the harmonization of the views of its members and their contribution and participation at the international level in the field of standardization;
(j)support the establishment of effective national standards bodies in Member States;
(k)provide services relating to standardization and allied matters to the members of ARSO;
(l)cooperate with other organizations interested in related matters, particularly by undertaking studies relating to standardization projects at their request;
(m)create appropriate bodies in addition to the organs of the organization for the purposes of fulfilling its objectives.
ARSO’s Strategic Objectives
Mission Statement
To facilitate intra-African and global trade through providing harmonised standards and facilitating implementation of standards.
Strategic Objectives
(1)Strategic Objective 1: Establish a standards harmonization system that supports a sound regulatory framework
(2)Strategic Objective 2: Disseminate harmonized standards and guidelines to support intra, inter African and international trade and industrialization
(3)Strategic Objective 3: Strengthening ARSO work-management capabilities for the sustainability of the Organization
(4)Strategic Objective 4: Promoting maximum and effective participation of members and other stakeholders
Priority Areas for Standards Harmonization
The priority areas of standards harmonization are closely determined by the continental instruments such as Article 47 of the Abuja Treaty for the Establishment of the African Economic Community (AEC Treaty) of 1991 and programmatic areas such as the Decade of Traditional Medicine in the African Region and the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa (PMPA). Based on these priorities, ARSO operates 13 broad-based Technical Harmonization Committees (ARSO/THCs). These ARS/THCs are listed below with those currently active in bold:
(a)ARSO/THC 01, Basic and General Standards
(b)ARSO/THC 02, Agriculture and Food Security
(c)ARSO/THC 03, Building and Civil Engineering
(d)ARSO/THC 04, Mechanical Engineering and Metallurgy
(e)ARSO/THC 05, Chemical & Chemical Engineering
(f)ARSO/THC 06, Electro-technology
(g)ARSO/THC 07, Textiles and Leather
(h)ARSO/THC 08, Transport and Communication
(i)ARSO/THC 09, Environmental Management
(j)ARSO/THC 10, Energy and Natural Resources
(k)ARSO/THC 11, Quality Management Systems
(l)ARSO/THC 12, Services
(m)ARSO/THC 13, African Traditional Medicine
Participation in ARSO’s Standardization Work
African countries with full subscription can choose to participate in the standards harmonization work of ARSO as Participating (P) members or as Observer (O) members in any THC through their designated national standards bodies. National standards bodies choose their status in each THC if they intend:
—to participate actively in the work, with an obligation to vote on all questions formally submitted for voting within the technical committee or subcommittee, on new work item proposals, enquiry drafts and final draft African Standards, and to contribute to meetings (Pmembers), or
—to follow the work as an observer, and therefore to receive committee documents and to have the right to submit comments and to attend meetings (Omembers).
Participation in ARSO’s Standardization Work by Other Organizations
ARSO recognizes the immense potential for private individuals and organizations to contribute to the harmonization of African Standards and has, therefore, decided to create special platforms for their participation. These platforms are tailored to suit each particular case and have costs associated with them.
Category A
Organizations that make an effective contribution to the work of the THC for questions dealt with by this THC. Such organizations are given access to all relevant documentation and are invited to meetings and may nominate experts to participate in all the structures of the THC.This can include manufacturer associations, commercial associations, industrial consortia, manufacturing concerns, national/regional/transnational companies, user groups and professional and scientific societies.
Category A organizations shall have the right to propose new work items for standardization; provide scientific, technical and socio-economic opinions on standardization projects; host selected activities of a THC; sponsor meetings and related activities of a THC; and associate themselves with particular standardization activities of ARSO in as far as this does not precipitate conflict of interest.
Category A organizations shall have the right to exhibit their products in venue of the meetings of their affiliated THC whenever it is convenient.
The fee for Category A organizations shall be US$500.00 paid into the ARSO Fund account per year.
Category B
This category includes organizations that have indicated a wish to be kept informed of the work of the THC. Such organizations are given access to reports on the work of a THC and may receive the approved standards of the THC on request. This category may include all the organizations in Category A in addition to educational and training institutions, governmental and intergovernmental and non-governmental institutions, research and professional institutions.
The fee for Category B organizations shall be US$250.00 paid into the ARSO Fund account per year.
Category C
This category shall constitute of individuals with renown status in their respective professions relevant to the work of the THC and have indicated a wish to be kept informed of the work of the THC. Such individuals may get access to the reports of the THC and other related matters. They may be called upon for THC-related activities whenever the situation warrants.
The fee for Category C organizations shall be US$150.00 paid into the ARSO Fund account per year.
Section A: To be completed by the applicant
ARSO/THC NUMBER: ______
ARSO/THC NAME: ______
Organization details
Name: ______
Address: ______
______
Postcode: ______Country: ______
Website: ______E-mail: ______
Contact details of the person within the Organization with particular responsibility for the Organization Identification Scheme
Surname: ______First name: ______
Email: ______
Telephone: ______Facsimile: ______
Signed: ______Date: ______
Section B: To be completed by the Category A Organizations
Countries in which organization has operations: ______
______
Scope of expertize available in organization (attach brief CVs where possible): ______
______
Intention to host THC activities: ______
______
Intention to exhibit products: ______
______
Intention to sponsor THC activities: ______
______
Intention to contribute to ARSO Fund to support African Standardization: ______
______
Range of Products Produced / Traded (attach brochure): ______
______
Intention to receive approved standards: ______
______
Preferred participation mode in THC work: physical meeting or online platform:
______
Section C: To be completed by the Category B Organizations
Countries in which organization has operations: ______
______
Scope of expertize available in organization (attach brief CVs where possible): ______
______
Intention to be informed of the activities of the THC and receive reports______
______
Intention to exhibit products: ______
______
Intention to attend meetings and events of THC: ______
______
Intention to contribute to ARSO Fund to support African Standardization: ______
______
Range of Products Produced / Traded (attach brochure): ______
______
Intention to receive approved standards: ______
Preferred participation mode in THC work: physical meeting or online platform:
______
Section D: To be completed by the Category C Participants
Countries in which you can operate: ______
______
Specific expertize you can offer in the THC (CV to be attached): ______
______
Intention to provide expert opinions on technical matters: ______
______
Intention to participate in meetings and events of the THC: ______
______
Your availability to conduct activities of THC if called upon: ______
______
Intention to contribute to ARSO Fund to support African Standardization: ______
______
Range of Products Produced / Traded (attach brochure): ______
______
Nature of THC information you would like to be updated on: ______
Preferred participation mode in THC work: physical meeting or online platform:
______
Section E:To be completed by the applicant
State, in your own view, any other aspects you would like to add value to the THC and the level of engagement you would expect with ARSO.
Section F: Payment Details (as per category)
Account Name:AFRICAN REGIONAL ORGANISATION FOR STANDARDISATION (ARSO)
Account Number:2031021947
Currency:USD
Bank Code:03
Branch Number:094
Branch Name:Queensway
Swift Code:BARCKENX (for international transfers)
NOTE:Please scan and send to ARSO Secretariat proof of payment receipts.
African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO)
ARSO Central Secretariat
3rd Floor, International House, Mama Ngina Street
P.O Box 57363-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel:+254-020-2224561, +25420311608, +25420311641
Email: ,
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