Ben Hedley

In-country NSB and stakeholder workshop sessions took place in Malawi in May 2019. 15/05/2019: Malawi stakeholder workshop, 16-17/05/2019: Malawi NSB (MBS) training. MBS reported on the events at https://mbsmw.org/2019/05/28/the-commonwealth-standards-network-holds-stakeholder-workshop-and-raining-for-mbs-staff/ noting that : 'The Stakeholders Workshop was aimed at increasing the visibility and understanding of the benefits that international standards can bring to support development and export potential. It provided an overview of trade and standards topics that are of most relevance to private sector stakeholders. The training session for staff of the MBS was aimed at supporting international trade through the standardization strategy of the National Standards Body and participation in international standards development and adoption of international standards. Speaking when he officially opened the workshop, the MBS Director General, Mr Symon O Mandala, emphasized the importance of CSN for standardization activities in Malawi in that it will strengthen the participation of the country in international standards development, it will assist in making the country aware of the existence of international standards of importance and for consideration to be adopted as Malawi standards, and it will assist in the development of the national standardization strategy, a three year plan that outlines a prioritized list of proposed standards to be developed for the country.He further said the CSN will also enable the MBS to network with other National Standards Bodies in the Commonwealth. These, among others, were enough justification for the MBS to join the network.'

A CSN Stakeholder workshop took place as a side event of the COPANT meetings in Colombia on 8th May 2019, the session was hosted by David Bell, (BSI Director or Standards Policy and CSN Caribbean Technical Assistance Programme Project Chair). Participants from Canada, St Lucia, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and CROSQ attended. The session outlined CSN progress and gathered feedback for next steps.

The CSN 2018-20 work programme includes the delivery of 10x in-country NSB training sessions and 20x in-country stakeholder workshops to support international trade via increased participation in international standards development and adoption of international standards. The third group of sessions took place in Guyana in April 2019: 24/04/2019: Guyana stakeholder workshop, 25-26/04/2019: Guyana NSB (GNBS) training. Agenda CSN Guyana (24-26 April 2019) final.pdf

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The CSN 2018-20 work programme includes the delivery of 10x in-country NSB training sessions and 20x in-country stakeholder workshops to support international trade via increased participation in international standards development and adoption of international standards. The second group of sessions took place in Kenya in March 2019: 20/03/2019: Kenya stakeholder workshop (pictured) 21-23/03/2019: Kenya NSB (KEBS) training.

The CSN 2018-20 work programme includes the delivery of 10x in-country NSB training sessions and 20x in-country stakeholder workshops to support international trade via increased participation in international standards development and adoption of international standards. The initial sessions took place in Ghana in February 2019: 13-14/02/2019: Ghana NSB (GSA) training 15/02/2019: Ghana stakeholder workshop (pictured).

CSN_Feedback from Ghana survey_(WTO)_2019-02 CSN_Feedback from Ghana survey_(WTO)_2019-02.pdf

CSN_WTO Overview_(WTO)_2019-02 CSN_WTO Overview_(WTO)_2019-02.pdf

CSN_Standards and the WTO_Presentation_(WTO)_2019-02 CSN_Standards and the WTO_Presentation_(WTO)_2019-02.pdf

CSN_Conformity Assessment & Quality Infrastructure (WTO)_Presentation_2019-02 CSN_Conformity Assessment & Quality Infrastructure_(WTO)_2019-02.pdf

CSN_Technical Regulations Presentation_WTO_2019-02 CSN_Technical Regulations_(WTO)_2019-02.pdf

Inaugural meeting of the Commonwealth Standards Network The inaugural meeting of the Commonwealth Standards Network (CSN) was held on 26 September 2018 in Genève, Switzerland. 24 Commonwealth National Standards Bodies, four regional standards organizations and several other interested stakeholders contributed to the event where they helped shape the network to deliver the following outcomes: Increase use of existing international standards Improve technical and institutional capacity of National Standards Bodies Increase trade Reduce poverty. Dr Scott Steedman, ISO Vice President of Policy and Director of Standards at BSI said: “The Commonwealth Standards Network is open to all Commonwealth countries and will provide a platform to share best practice and exchange ideas, it will promote the use of existing international standards to foster innovation and improve export potential to increase intra-Commonwealth trade.” Speakers at the event included: Julian Braithwaite, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, UK Mission to the UN and Other International Organisations, Geneva - noted the UK commitment to tackling international non-tariff barriers and the potential benefits for the international standardization community to a strengthening Commonwealth voice. Scott Steedman, ISO Vice President of Policy and Director of Standards at BSI - discussed the benefits of international standardization and how the CSN can help increase Commonwealth trade and reduce poverty. Manuel Mutale, Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) Director - explained how the Commonwealth Standards Network technical assistance programme will help Zambia pursue its development goals. The CSN is a collaborative network open to all Commonwealth countries and regional Commonwealth associations. It has been launched to tackle non-tariff barriers and promote strong trade amongst all Commonwealth states through the participation, adoption and implementation of international standards. Standards play an important role in promoting productivity and efficiency, reducing costs, removing barriers to trade, and driving economic growth. As such the network will be especially relevant to developing nations that are looking to boost their export capabilities through the use of standards. It is important that its members are actively involved in shaping its development to suit their needs. To find out more about the network and/or membership, please contact the CSN Programme Manager Ben Hedley ben.hedley@bsigroup.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Attendees at the inaugural meeting of the Commonwealth Standards Network: 24x National Standards Bodies: Australia Barbados Botswana Canada Cyprus Fiji India Jamaica Kenya Malaysia Malta Mauritius New Zealand Papua New Guinea Rwanda Saint Lucia Singapore South Africa St Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago Uganda United Kingdom Vanuatu Zambia 4x Regional Associations: African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) The Pan American Standards Commission (COPANT) CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Other interested stakeholders: UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) UK Department for International Development (DFID) The Commonwealth Standards Network: At the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the British Prime Minister announced the establishment of the Commonwealth Standards Network. BSI is overseeing the development and delivery of the first two years of the project. UK Prime Minister Theresa May at the Commonwealth Head of Governments Meeting on 16th April 2018 stated: “The network will provide a significant opportunity for national standards experts to collaborate and share best practice and it will empower developing countries to have a stronger voice in the international standards community – something that has benefits on a global scale.” https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/about-bsi/media-centre/press-releases/2018/october/inaugural-meeting-of-the-commonwealth-standards-network/ CSN Press release for Inaugral Meeting - 2018-10-02.pdf

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