National Standards

At national level, the standardization work is conducted by standards committees, which can obtain assistance from groups of experts. These committees or working groups are made up of qualified representatives of the industrial sectors, public authorities, government agencies, and consumers.

The respective technical committees prepare Bahraini standards that intended to meet national requirements (safety, quality, and fitness for purpose).

The Standards development in Bahrain is guided by the following principles:

• No Bahraini standard is developed if there is an identical draft Gulf standard in existence.
• Bahraini Standards to be developed should not create any trade barriers.
• In most cases, the Bahraini standards are prepared through a direct adoption of Gulf Standards or International standards.

The Standardization work in Bahrain is closely tied with that of the Standardization and Metrology Organization for GCC States.

BSMD participates in the GCC standards development plan by submitting proposals of draft Gulf standards to the technical work program of the Gulf Standardization Organization for GCC Countries (GSO).

It also participates in studying draft Gulf standards through technical committees (experts from industry, university and relevant governmental and nongovernmental departments).

Following approval of Gulf standards by GSO Board of Directors, the national committee for standards approves these Gulf standards as national Bahraini standards.

The numbers of Gulf standards adopted as Bahraini standards currently stand at 1685. There are also around 645 draft Gulf standards in the pipeline.