THE LIBYAN NATIONAL CENTRE FOR STANDARDIZATION AND METROLOGY

UNCLAS TRIPOLI 000592 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/MAG GAVITO, OES FOR SENSENEY; AMMAN FOR WHITLESLEY; CAIRO FOR DR. MARIE RICCIARDONE; E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BBSR BEXP ECIN EIND WTRO XI LY SUBJECT: THE LIBYAN NATIONAL CENTRE FOR STANDARDIZATION AND METROLOGY - AN OVERVIEW ¶1. SUMMARY: The Libyan National Centre for Standardization and Metrology (LNCSM) was established with the goal of bringing Libya into conformance with international trade standards, focusing on eventual accession of Libya to the World Trade Organization (WTO.) The current focus within the LNCSM is protecting the health and safety of Libya's citizens and environment by creating a valid national testing and conformity assessment system. The LNCSM monitors the trade climate within Libya to avoid creating unnecessary barriers to trade, harmonize the rules of competition, and avoid or remove non-tariff trade barriers. In addition, they maintain a focus on avoidance of putting measures in place that would be contrary to Libya's eventual obligations, if and when they can achieve membership in the WTO. The director general of the LNCSM, Dr. Ahmed Shembesh, in addition to seeking international acceptance of testing and reports generated within Libya, also seeks to create domestic confidence in Libya's testing procedures, as well as the bodies charged with undertaking those procedures. END SUMMARY. -------------- The Current Program -------------- ¶2. Currently the market surveillance portion of the LNCSM charter is limited by poor communication resources, lack of established procedures and norms, lack of historical record keeping, and a nebulous market place that suffers from porous borders and IPR violations on every scale. The LNCSM recognizes these issues and focuses their current limited program of market surveillance and national conformity on the following areas: --Protection of consumers from hazards posed by unsafe imported materials --Facilitating the exchange of goods between local industries and enterprises --Facilitating the export of local goods by ensuring that they bring a fair price --Taking a special focus on export assistance to small and medium sized businesses -------------- The Direction of the LNCSM -------------- ¶3. The LNCSM intends to be the driving force behind upgrading and establishing a functioning conformity assessment and consumer protection system in Libya's near future. They envision a system afforded appropriate laws, and protected by standards, measures and a quality infrastructure that will be in line with international guidelines. They are currently seeking assistance to achieve these goals in the following key areas: --Awareness raising campaigns --Personnel and institutional capacity building --Analysis of training needs --Seminars and Workshops --Practical on-the-job training of specialists --International study tours -------------- Future Actions -------------- ¶4. During her proposed November 11-13, 2006 visit, Assistant Secretary McMurray of the Bureau of Oceans and International SIPDIS Environmental and Scientific Affairs and Dr. Hratch Smerjian of the National Institute for Standards and Technology are tentatively scheduled to meet with Dr. Shembesh of the LNCSM and discuss potential areas for U.S. cooperation with Libya in the fields of standardization and metrology. SIGNATURE BERRY GOLDRICH