General information on Ethiopian Standards
1. What is a standard? [top] Indeed, one of the key features of a standard is to help create uniformity/order in various areas of social and economic development. The formal and internationally- accepted definition of a standard is as follows: A standard is a document established by CONSENSUS and approved by recognized body, that provides, for COMMON AND REPEATED USE, rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results, aimed at the achievement of the OPTIMUM DEGREE OF ORDER in a given context. Standards should be based on the consolidated results of science, technology and experience, and aimed at the promotion of optimum community benefits.
The need [top] Ethiopian Standards (ESs) provide industry and users with the framework for economies of design, greater product and service quality, more inter-operability, and better production and delivery efficiency. At the same time, Ethiopian Standards also promote an improved quality of life by contributing to safety, human health and the protection of the environment. Level and type of standards [top] The level of standards development differs according to their scope of application/usage, ranging from company to international levels. Ethiopian Standards have a national scope and applicability. The types of standards commonly available relate to specifications, guidelines (codes of practice), and other aspects such as terms and definitions, symbols, sampling and test methods, and management systems for quality, environment, safety etc.
The basic guiding principles, role of QSAE, involvement of stakeholders, procedures and technical committees in Ethiopian Standards development are briefly explained herein. The ES development brochure, PDF 153 KB, also provides basic info on these subjects. Principles [top]
One of the central objectives of QSAE is to coordinate the national standards development effort in all economic fields, which is carried by the Standards Development Group organized under the Quality Promotion and Standards Directorate. In order to guide the national standards development endeavor in a consistent and efficient manner, QSAE serves as the Secretariat for all ES development Technical Committees (TCs). In addition to developing indigenous standards, attempts are made at all times to harmonize Ethiopian Standards with international standards. In many such cases, the Ethiopian Standards serve as "bridging standards" to cross the technology gap between the industrialized world and our country, and this plays a vital role in the transfer of technology and enhancement of global competitiveness. Furthermore, as part of an ongoing quality improvement effort to uplift QSAE's standing in the national and international arena, QSAE is currently implementing a quality management system based on ES ISO 9001 and aims to get certified by an internationally-recognized body in the area of Ethiopian Standards development.
The active voluntary participation
of all stakeholders in the Ethiopian Standards development process
is crucial to ensure the effective implementation of the standards
thus published. In most cases, the involvement in standards preparation
is in two spheres/layers, namely: by participating/attending meetings
of technical committees, and by commenting on draft standards
that are made publicly available.
Technical committees made up of experts from industry, government, user groups and other sectors prepare Ethiopian Standards. The requirements or recommendations contained in Ethiopian Standards are a consensus of the views of representative interests and also take account of comments received from other sources. Ethiopian Standards are kept under continuous review after publication and are updated regularly to take account of latest scientific and technological changes. In short, standards are prepared by you the users of such documents. ES development stages and deliverables [top] Ethiopian Standards are prepared on a project approach consisting of eight stages (Chart on ES developemet cycle) as described below.
The Ethiopian Standards development code system is identical with the International Harmonized Stage Code System. Technical committees [top] The Board of Management of QSAE has approved the following 10 Technical Committees with responsibility for the technical work of preparing Ethiopian Standards and related normative documents (Technical Reports). In addition, over 80 subcommittees operate under these TCs as shown in detail in the Structure of TCs.
Current Ethiopian Standards [top] QSAE has published the first group
of 108 Ethiopian Standards back in 1973 following the consensus-based
committee procedure. To date there are over 1190 Ethiopian Standards
in some 20 fields, of which agriculture and food technology, and
textile and leather technology are prominent in number (comprising
about 70%, see
pie chart on distribution of ESs by TC, PDF 46 KB). Out
of the 1190 or so standards the enforcement of some Ethiopian
Standards are made mandatory by the Government in view of health,
safety, fair trade and related considerations, and their enforcement
is carried out by QSAE. The current collection of ESs is mostly adopted/adapted international standards whereas in the agriculture and food fields, nationally developed/indigenous standards exist or are under development. This relates to seeds, coffee, tea, injera, Ethiopic script and the like. The designation of Ethiopian Standards has been changed in 2000 to make it simpler and easier to use, the list of which is available: New&FormerDesignations, PDF 100 KB. The online catalogue of Ethiopian Standards and draft standards is structured based on fields, groups and sub-groups listed in the International Classification for Standards (ICS), PDF 285 KB. To download the alphabetical index of the ICS, please go to: http://www.wssn.net/WSSN/refdocs.htm. Projects underway [top] In the year 2002 alone, 50 standardization projects (see work program) are being undertaken which are expected to result in the acceptance and publication of over 600 Ethiopian Standards at the end of the project period. Orders [top] Orders for all Ethiopian Standards, and international and foreign national standards, including electronic versions, should be addressed to the Documentation and Technical Information Group at the Head Office, Tel: (251-1) 62 69 76. The price of Ethiopian Standards, excluding mailing and delivery costs, is based on number of pages of the standard. The 2002 Catalogue of Ethiopian Standards, PDF 1226 KB and 2002 Catalogue Supplement 1, 285 KB is also available at our Head Office, Branches and Representative Offices. How are ESs implemented? [top] Implementation of or compliance with
Ethiopian Standards is normally voluntary, but for standards that
have direct influence on health, safety and related considerations,
compliance is often made compulsory.
QSAE safeguards Ethiopia's interest
in international standardization through participation in technical
committees, especially in the fields of agriculture and food.
QSAE is a member of the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO), International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML), and
Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC). It is also a founding member
of the African Regional Organization for Standardization (ARSO),
and has close relations with the International Electro-technical
Commission (IEC). For more info on basics of standardization, go to: About Standardization. Get your FREE download of Acrobat Reader
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