By the end of 2011, the BSMI has developed 14,543 national standards. Among those referenced by technical regulations, 222 have corresponding international standards and harmonization with these international standards have been completed. The Code of Good Practice for the Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards under the WTO TBT Agreement requires that a standardizing body shall use international standards, or the relevant parts of them, as a basis for the standards it develops if they exist or their completion is imminent, except where such international standards or relevant part would be ineffective or inappropriate. Based on this provision, the rate of harmonization of our national standards with international standards increased from 46% in 2001 to 86% in 2011.

The Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC/SCSC) identified four priority areas, namely electric and electronic appliances, food labeling, machinery, plastic products and rubber products, for member economies to align their national standards with international standards. We have achieved the goal of aligning national standards in these areas with international standards. With a view to bringing our national standards in line with international standards, the BSMI will continue working towards the goal of becoming a member of international standardizing organizations, such as ISO, IEC, Codex, ITU, UN/ECE, etc, and participating in their standardization activities.