Saarc standards for six products in the offing

The South Asian Regional Standards Organisation (Sarso) has developed Saarc standards for six products to facilitate intra-regional trade and create scope for a wider global market access of the items.

The commodities are: refined sugar, biscuit, hessian, cotton drill, cotton twill and jute twine. The standards body for the eight-member South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) has also finlased the code of hygienic practice for the dairy sector.

"We expect to notify all member states of Saarc about the common standards for these products within the first quarter of the year. These will be Saarc standards," said Sarso Director General Syed Humayun Kabir.

In addition, the Sarso expects to develop standards for jute bags for packing 50 kilograms of food grains and sugar, and jute yarn and jute carpets backing fabric within December this year.

It is also working to finalise a code of practice related to food hygiene for Saarc nations by this year, Kabir said.

Headquartered in Dhaka, the specialised body of Saarc was earlier recognised by the ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) as the regional standards organisation, according to Sarso.

"This is good news for us. We are looking forward to sign an agreement with ISO this year," he said, adding that Sarso is in the process of signing cooperation agreements with International Electrotechnical Commission.

Saarc standards for the goods will reduce barriers to trade in the subcontinent, where the absence of common standards for goods and services acts as deterrents to commerce, Kabir said. "We have the target to create a common logo/ mark of conformity among member nations. If there is one standard, non-tariff barriers to trade in the Saarc region will decrease."

Established on the basis of an agreement among Saarc states in August 2011, Sarso aims to develop harmonised standards for goods and services to promote increased intra-regional trade in South Asia and beyond.

South Asia is one of the most dynamic regions in the world, but intra-regional trade accounts for only 5 percent of total trade, compared with 25 percent in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), according to World Bank.

Some 95 percent of trade from South Asian countries is focused on Europe, North America, and, to a lesser extent, East Asia, the WB said. Greater regional integration will enhance prospects for growth and shared prosperity in South Asia, home to 44 percent of the world's poor, the WB said.

So far, Sarso has identified 47 products to develop Saarc standards for them. These products are of regional interest, and have been selected based on consultation with Saarc members, Kabir said.

The products include black tea, instant noodles, skimmed milk powder, steel tubes for structural purposes, steel bars for concrete, electric cable, switches, sockets, solar photovoltaic system, transformers, toilet soap, liquid toilet soap, laundry soap, detergent powder, tooth paste and shampoo.

"We also expect to develop standards for rice, wheat, spices and leather," said Kabir.

Stakeholders, particularly businesses, should submit proposals for items that require common standards in the Saarc bloc, he said.