Jul 15, 2009

Over the past year, several ASTM International standards were consulted for the preparation of Jamaican technical standards, according to the Annual Report submitted to ASTM by the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ).

Established in 1968, the mission of the Bureau of Standards Jamaica is to promote the international competitiveness of Jamaican products, facilitate trade, and protect consumers by providing standardization and metrology services. BSJ and ASTM International signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in 2002.

According to the report, 34 ASTM International standards were consulted as normative references for the preparation of Jamaican technical standards in the past year.  Since the MOU signing, more than 135 ASTM standards in areas such as steel, concrete and cement have been consulted for the development of Jamaican national standards. BSJ has also participated in ASTM technical training programs on cement and concrete and 11 individuals from Jamaica currently serve on one or more of ASTM’s 141 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).
 

Release #8297