Syria, Lebanon Agree to Mutual Recognition of Conformity Certificates

A Syrian delegation led by the Director General of the Syrian Arab Organization for Standardization and Metrology, Dr. Yasser Aliwi, held talks in Beirut on developing economic and technical cooperation with Lebanon. The visit falls within efforts by Syria's Ministry of Economy and Industry to strengthen the flow of goods, expand trade exchange, and advance industrial integration between the two countries.

Ministerial Meetings

The delegation's meetings included Lebanon's Ministry of Economy and Trade and its Ministry of Industry. Discussions focused on developing the standards, quality, and conformity assessment system, and on achieving mutual recognition of conformity certificates and test results. The aim is to reduce repeated inspection procedures and lower time and costs for exporters and importers.

Updating Cooperation Agreements

The delegation met with the Lebanese Standards Institution, headed by Director General Lana Dargham, to discuss updating technical cooperation agreements and the mutual recognition agreement for conformity marks and certificates, along with exchanging standards and expertise and launching joint training and capacity building programs. Both sides agreed to form a joint technical team to follow up on files and set implementation mechanisms.

Visit to Industrial Research Institute

As part of strengthening industrial cooperation, the delegation visited the Lebanese Industrial Research Institute and reviewed its laboratory experience in testing, analysis, calibration, and product certification, as well as mechanisms for handling goods imported through customs points and international accreditation requirements.

Next Steps

Both sides agreed to review the list of exchanged goods and products, set priorities, and establish a technical framework to speed up customs clearance and remove technical barriers to trade. These steps come within the Ministry of Economy and Industry's efforts to build a more efficient trade and industrial environment based on quality and standards, facilitating the movement of products and strengthening economic integration with regional markets.