The Afghanistan National Standards Authority (ANSA) submitted a recent annual report to ASTM International documenting its use of ASTM standards this past year.  ANSA and ASTM International signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in 2005.

The Afghanistan National Standards Authority was established by decree in 2004.  ANSA is responsible for developing and maintaining Afghan national standards and technical regulations, the testing and certification of products, metrology functions, promoting technical progress, and facilitating trade through standardization. 

ANSA reports that it referenced 72 ASTM International standards in Afghan national standards over the past year. The majority of ASTM standards were from ASTM Committees D02 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants and D04 on Road and Paving Materials. 

Several professionals and students in Afghanistan have taken advantage of the opportunity to participate as members of ASTM International, which is one of the benefits of the MOU program.

Initiated in 2001, ASTM International's MOU program promotes communication between ASTM International and national standards bodies worldwide, fostering awareness of the standardization systems of all parties involved. The purpose of the program is to increase greater worldwide participation in the ASTM standards development process and facilitate the development of national standards that will aid health, safety, and environmental and economic conditions. More information on the MOU program can be found on the ASTM International Web site (www.astm.org/GLOBAL).

ASTM Staff Contact: Teresa Cendrowska, Phone: 610-832-9718; tcendrow@astm.org

Release #8848