Russia/Newly Independent States (NIS) Standards Related Activities

The Global Standards and Information Group in the Standards Services Division has initiated a range of cooperative programs involving the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Georgia, and other countries of the Former Soviet Union. The overall goal is to facilitate harmonization of standards-related practices and support increased trade. Activities include technical training to familiarize key officials with relevant U.S standards, conformity assessment and regulatory practices in specific sectors; engaging in comparison and harmonization activities with Russia/NIS counterpart agencies; and assisting these officials in developing confidence in the technical adequacy of U.S., international and other widely-used standards.

NIST provides the U.S. co-chair for the U.S.- Russia Standards Working Group under the Joint U.S.-Russia Business Development Committee. This Working Group is the primary vehicle for the two sides to exchange information on standards development and conformity assessment practices and activities in the two countries to facilitate harmonization and increase trade. Meetings of the Working Group have exposed Russian government participants to a wide range of U.S. standards developers (SDOs), providing them with an opportunity to pursue follow-on activities with their technical counterparts. With NIST assistance, two SDO's - the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) - have translated key standards into Russian. These standards will be made available in Russia and other NIS countries. The most recent meeting of the Standards Working Group was held in Moscow in November 2000. The next meeting will be held in September 2001 in Washington, D.C.

NIST also cooperates with the Department of Commerce's Special American Business Internship Training (SABIT) program to offer a Standards Program for NIS participants. The SABIT Standards Program centers on standards as a basis for exchanging knowledge of manufacturing practices between U.S. companies and NIS countries, as a means of increasing U.S. trade in the region. Participants learn about U.S. standard and conformity assessment practices and take this knowledge back to apply it in their home organizations. The program provides opportunities for U.S. companies to foster effective business relationships in the NIS, and has contributed to increased U.S. business understanding of commercial conditions in the NIS region. Each four week session focuses on a vital sector of the economy and is comprised of 20-25 experts from throughout the NIS. The Training Schedule for 2001 includes sessions on medical devices, information technology and telecommunications.

The Global Standards and Information Group makes available intermittent reports on key developments in Russian legislation related to product certification.

For further information, contact:

Cathleen Trail Keyes
NIST
100 Bureau Drive, MS 2100
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2100
E-mail: cathleen.trail@nist.gov
Tel: 301-975-4462
Fax: 301-963-2871