Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN808
2003-02-05 16:36:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

JORDAN INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND METROLOGY LOOKS

Tags:  EFIN ETRD JO WTRO 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 000808 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE PASS USTR FOR NED SAUMS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ETRD JO WTRO
SUBJECT: JORDAN INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND METROLOGY LOOKS
TO IMPROVE, HARMONIZE NATIONAL STANDARDS

REF: 02 RIYADH 8282

Sensitive but unclassified; please protect accordingly.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 000808

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE PASS USTR FOR NED SAUMS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ETRD JO WTRO
SUBJECT: JORDAN INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND METROLOGY LOOKS
TO IMPROVE, HARMONIZE NATIONAL STANDARDS

REF: 02 RIYADH 8282

Sensitive but unclassified; please protect accordingly.


1. (sbu) SUMMARY: The Jordan Institute of Standards and
Metrology (JISM) has been working hard since its creation
in 1995 to develop comprehensive product standards that
conform with international norms and support Jordan's WTO
commitments. At the same time, JISM is currently
evaluating offers to implement an International Product
Conformity Certification Program and perform pre-shipment
inspections, a program designed to cover gaps in Jordan's
current standards regime. We have raised USG concerns about
such a program, and JISM has expressed a willingness to
cooperate with us to address USG concerns. Since JISM will
be a key player in developing GOJ positions in the WTO on
standards issues, a strong relationship with JISM will help
cement GOJ support for USG proposals in relevant WTO
committees, and will help encourage them to take a
leadership role among developing country WTO members on
standards issues. End summary.

--------------
JISM STRUCTURE, RESPONSIBILITIES
--------------


2. (u) The Jordan Institute of Standards and Metrology
(JISM) is a quasi-governmental institution established in

1995. It replaced the Jordanian Directorate of Standards
(JDS) which was founded in 1972. JISM is financially and
administratively autonomous. It is governed according to
Jordan's Standards and Metrology Law number 22 of the year

2000. The Minister of Industry and Trade chairs JISM's
Board of Directors, which consists of 15 appointed members,
including 10 members from the GOJ and 5 members who are
appointed by private sector bodies (Royal Scientific
Society, Federation of Jordanian Chambers of Commerce, a
representative of Jordan's Chambers of Industry appointed
by the Minister of Industry and Trade, National Consumer
Protection Society, and Jordan Society for Quality).
Appointments are for a two-year term, renewable once.


3. (u) JISM's main objectives are to harmonize Jordan's
standards with international norms in accordance with WTO
commitments and to ensure equal treatment for all imports
with regards to standards issues. Under this umbrella, JISM
focuses on protecting Health, Safety and Environment;
Enhancing competitiveness; and coordinating Jordan's role

in the TBT Agreement. Health, Safety and Environmental
standards are obligatory, while standards relating to
JISM's other priorities are considered voluntary.


4. (u) JISM has six primary functions: issuance of
standards; inspection of imports and domestically produced
goods; accreditation of labs and inspection bodies;
certification of products and issuance of the Jordan
Quality Mark in accordance to a benchmark combining the ISO
9000 and Jordan's standards; establishment of the National
Metrology Scheme; and creation of an information center.


5. (u) JISM has 24 permanent technical committees that
draft standards at the request of JISM. The drafting
process goes through several stages of review, where all
stakeholders, including the private sector, have a chance
to express their opinions on proposals for new standards or
amendment of existing standards. Standards are implemented
once JISM's Board of Directors approves them. JISM can
adopt international standards or those of other countries
and implement them in Jordan if it is deemed that they meet
Jordan's requirements. For example, Jordan uses American
standards for the steel and construction industry, the
Codex Alimentarius for the food industry, and ISO for
systems.

--------------
PRE-IMPORT CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
--------------


6. (sbu) JISM is currently evaluating offers from various
consultants and organizations to implement an International
Product Conformity Certification Program and perform pre-
shipment inspections on goods exported to Jordan (reftel).
Dr. Ahmed Thouqan Al-Hindawi, JISM's Director General, told
us that a final decision to adopt the program has already
been taken in principle but that a provider has not yet
been chosen due to the large number of proposals received
by interested service providers. Emboffs noted in a meeting
with Hindawi on January 22 that the USG had some concerns
about whether or not such a system would be compliant with
WTO rules. Hindawi said he feels there is still time to
comment on the program and indicated JISM's willingness to
cooperate with the U.S. on this issue. He also gave us a
copy of the programs instructions (forwarded to NEA/ARN and
USTR via pouch).


7. (sbu) Hindawi noted that the program is designed to
cover a gap in Jordan's standards regime, where a main
challenge is the lack of qualified inspection labs for many
imported goods (he mentioned specifically new and used
autos, auto parts, tires, and children's toys). Hindawi
conceded that Saudi Arabia is shifting away from its
similar program. Nevertheless, he said he feels the Saudis
have benefited from its implementation in the past, where
it complemented the lack of suitable inspection facilities.
He noted that Saudi Arabia is now self sufficient in that
area and can afford to replace pre-shipment inspection with
local inspection as a result of investing heavily in the
creation of new testing facilities (investments that, he
hinted, Jordan could not afford).

-------------- ---
Ministry of Health Holding-off on its Own System
-------------- ---


8. (sbu) Jordan's Ministry of Health planned to implement
its own requirement of legalizing export documents of food
related items by the Jordanian Embassy at the source
country. The Ministry originally targeted September 1, 2002
for this requirement to go into effect; the new requirement
was briefly enforced from January 1, 2003. This had delayed
at least one US product, a shipment of Fruit Granulated
Sugar from the US company Savannah Foods Industrial to the
Jordanian company United Confectionery. According to Dr.
Ahmed Barmawi, Director of Safety and Health at the
Ministry, the new requirement is on hold until JISM
finalizes its program by March of this year.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


9. (sbu) As Jordan's authority on product standards and on
SPS and TBT issues, JISM will be a key player in
implementation of the kingdom's WTO commitments, as well as
development of GOJ positions in the WTO on future standards
issues. As we continue to work with Jordan to take up a
leadership role among the developing world in the WTO, a
strong relationship with JISM will help us to coordinate
our approaches on future SPS and TBT issues. Dr. Hindawi
has expressed a strong desire to develop relationships with
U.S. standards organizations like NIST, ASTI, and the CPSC
to enable JISM to adopt standards as close as possible to
American norms wherever feasible. Hindawi stated in
particular that JISM had worked with the AMIR program in
the past, and he expressed JISM's interest in continuing
that relationship. The Embassy and AID mission will follow
up on Hindawi's request.
GNEHM