Oct 10, 2011

According to a recent annual report, Peru’s Instituto Nacional de Defensa de la Competencia y de la Protección de la Propiedad Intelectual (INDECOPI) has adopted several ASTM International standards though the ASTM Memorandum of Understanding Program (MOU).  INDECOPI signed an MOU with ASTM in 2003.

INDECOPI works to promote fair and honest competition in the Peruvian economy and to protect consumers’ rights and intellectual property such as trademarks, copyrights and patents. Services within INDECOPI include the National Accreditation System, the Citizen Service and the National Metrology System, which is responsible for protecting and maintaining Peruvian national standards.

Since 2003, Peru has adopted, adapted or referenced hundreds of ASTM International standards in a variety of sectors, including steel, cement, metals, building construction, textiles, paint, petroleum and more.  This year, INDECOPI reports that an additional 33 ASTM standards covering cement, concrete and petroleum were adopted as identical Peruvian national standards. In addition, ten ASTM standards were adopted as equivalent Peruvian standards and more than 120 ASTM standards were used as reference documents.

INDECOPI and ASTM have maintained a strong relationship since signing their MOU agreement. As a benefit of the MOU program, technical experts from any of the countries where MOUs have been signed can participate freely as full voting members in the ASTM standards development process.  More than 300 Peruvians participate on one or more of ASTM’s 142 technical committees.

Initiated in 2001, ASTM International's MOU program promotes communication between ASTM International and national standards bodies worldwide, fostering awareness of the standardization systems of all parties involved. The purpose of the program is to increase greater worldwide participation in the ASTM standards development process and facilitate the development of national standards that will aid health, safety, and environmental and economic conditions. More information on the MOU program can be found on the ASTM International Web site (www.astm.org/GLOBAL).

ASTM Staff Contact: Teresa Cendrowska, Phone: 610-832-9718; tcendrow@astm.org

Release #8990