Quality Standards

Bahrain Standards and Metrology Directorate (BSMD)

Bahrain Standards and Metrology Directorate (BSMD) within the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism is the national standardization body and the national enquiry point of Bahrain; established in 1988 under the provision of the Legislative Decree No. 16 of 1985. The BSMD is responsible for standardization, metrology, conformity, and quality assurance.

The BSMD prepares, revises, amends, and publishes approved Bahraini technical regulations and conformity assessments as well as Bahraini national standards, to meet international demands for quality, design, performance, safety and environmental impact of products and services. The BSMD also accepts and adopts, as appropriate, the technical regulations, standards, guides, recommendations of other foreign countries and of regional (Gulf and Arab States) and international organizations.⁽¹⁾

The National Committee for Standards and Metrology (NCSM)

The National Committee for Standards and Metrology (NCSM) is chaired by the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism comprises representatives of stakeholders from relevant ministries, the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), and independent technical experts.

NCSM is responsible for:

• drawing up the policy of standards and metrology in Bahrain.

• forming Technical Committees that participate in the preparation of standards.

• approving national technical regulations and standards prior to their publication in the Official Gazette.

• proposing the fees to be charged for the services rendered by the Directorate of Standards and Metrology; and

• adopting all resolutions of the Board of Directors of the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) prior to their publication in the Official Gazette and implementation in Bahrain.

Standards ⁽²⁾

The GCC Customs Union in theory requires member states to enforce unified standard across the region. Bahraini standards are required to meet national requirements for safety, quality, and fitness for purpose as determined by respective technical committees in Bahrain.

Most often, Bahraini standards are adoptions of international or Gulf standards, and the development of standards in Bahrain is based on the following principles: a) no Bahraini standard is to be developed if there is an identical draft Gulf standard in existence, b) developing new Bahraini standards must not create trade barriers.

Bahrain Standards Store ⁽³⁾

This service provided by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism (MOICT), enables stakeholders to search and buy standards and technical regulations online in an electronic format.
https://www.moic.gov.bh/en/eServices/standardstores

Testing, inspection and certification ⁽⁴⁾

Most imported products can enter the market freely. The BSMD has established an office in Khalifa Bin Salman Port in the Customs Department to check and approve all regulated products before they enter Bahrain. Below is a list of products that are checked upon import into Bahrain:

• Tires

• Car batteries

• Automobiles spare parts

• Cement

• Asbestos

• Toys

• Plastic bags

• Tissue paper

• Electric appliances

• Cosmetics

• Nutrition products

• Weighing scales, weights, measuring tapes & meters

• Air conditioners

Sanitary and phytosanitary measures ⁽⁵⁾

1. Regulatory authorities:

• The Directorate of Public Health under the Ministry of Health is the national enquiry point on food safety.

• The Directorate of Plant Health under the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture (MMAA) is the national enquiry point for plant health.

• Bahrain's notification authority on SPS is the Directorate of Foreign Trade Relations under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

2. SPS import requirements:

When food or plant is imported into the Kingdom, random samples are drawn from shipments for laboratory analysis according to a predetermined plan. All consignments that are imported for the first time are analyzed before release. Results are assessed against GCC and Codex Alimentarius standards to ensure that imported food items are safe for human consumption. Unfit foodstuffs are rejected at the port of entry; they are either destroyed or returned to the country of origin (the decision is left to the importer).

Here are some certification requirements for food and plant importation:

• A health certificate and prior permission, from the MMAA are required to import live animals from all countries, including GCC countries.

• Health certificates are required for all birds; cats and dogs may be imported from all countries but must be accompanied by a health certificate from the competent authority stating that the animal is free from rabies.

• Imports of foodstuffs are inspected organoleptically⁽⁶⁾ by the Ministry of Health to ensure that they are free from physical or visible contaminants.

• All meat and poultry products must be accompanied by an Islamic (Halal) slaughter certificate issued by an approved Islamic center in the country of origin.

• All imported eggs must be individually stamped

^{(1) Trade Policy Review – Bahrain 2014 - WTO}

^{(2) International Trade Administration – US Department of Commerce – Bahrain Guide}

^{(3) Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism – Standards Store}

^{(4) International Trade Administration – US Department of Commerce – Bahrain Guide}

^{(5) Trade Policy Review – WTO – 2014 – Secretariat report}

^{(6) Organoleptically refers to the physical properties of food, such as colour, smell, taste, and texture}