Conformity Assessment Infrastructure in Nepal

1. Conformity Assessment Infrastructure in Nepal MrShambhuJha Electrical Engineer Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology, Nepal republic of

2. Nepal • A multi-cultural, multi-linguistic, multi-religious democratic republic country. • Area:147,181 km2 • Population 29.5 million estimated (July 2008) • Per capita Income 900 US $ • Literacy: 69% • Religion: Hindu(80.6%), Buddhist (10.7%), Muslim(4.2%), Kirant(3.6%) and others(0.9%)

3. Legal Frame Work for CA in Nepal • The functions of NBSM ( Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology) is guided by two acts- • Nepal Standards (certification mark) Act 1980 • Standards Weights and Measures Act 1969 • Nepal Standards Act is in the process of revision • A new bill – Accreditation Act is also in the draft stage • Nepal Electricity act • Nepal telecom act

4. Functions of NBSM • Formulation of national standards • Provides services to NCS, Nepal Council for Standards • Inspection • Certification • Testing and calibration services • Training and Trade facilitation • Coordinates for Laboratory Accreditation

5. Standards Formulation • NBSM carries out the tasks like formulation, cancellation and review of standards and presents it to NCS for approval. • There are 900 Nepal standards developed so far. • More than 80% of Nepal Standards are harmonized with international standards. • We are in the process of adopting code of good practice of TBT Agreement.

6. Product Certification • NBSM offers product certification services to Nepalese industries • 140 industries ( no of licenses 200 ) have been granted licenses to use NS-mark in 59 products • We are in the process to implement ISO Guide 65 for international recognition

7. System Certification • NBSM has just started system certification services. • The system has been accreditated from NABCB, India • More than 300 organizations in Nepal are certified in different management systems (QMS, EMS, FSMS) by foreign certification bodies, mostly from India

8. Inspection • NBSM carries out inspection for the purpose of technical regulation fulfillment (mandatory Products), • To verify the requirements of contractual agreement (Lot certification) • monitoring of product in the market and • Against the consumer complaints • Pre-shipment inspection • Post surveillance of NS certified products

9. Accreditation • No organization in Nepal for providing accreditations • NBSM involved in private laboratory accreditation under the NEPLAS (Nepal Laboratory Accreditation Scheme)program • NEPLAS international y not recognition • A great need for establishing an umbrella organization in the country for providing accreditation felt • At present, we are going to establish a national accreditation focal point • Nepal Accreditation Act yet to be approved from parliament

10. Metrology • Legal Metrology • Industrial Metrology – mass, temperature, Pressure • Scientific Metrology

11. Problems • Weak coordination and cooperation among different institutions • Non recognition of certification & testing • Lack of testing and calibration facilities • Cost of conformity assessment- high • Industries- loosing export market • Regulator- Insufficient mechanism to ensure public safety ( electrical products) • Dependence on test certificate for interoperatability

12. Thank you