(ASTM: West Conshohocken, PA) -- In a 2008 annual report, the Bahrain Directorate for Standards and Metrology (BSMD) outlines the success of the memorandum of understanding (MOU), an ASTM International outreach program, which was signed with ASTM International in 2008. 

As the national standardization body of Bahrain, BSMD revises, amends, and publishes all Bahraini technical regulations and national standards for human health, safety, and environment protection upon approval of the National Committee for Standards and Metrology. A founding member of the Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO), they also review international standards for their adoption as Gulf standards. 

Overall, BSMD has adopted a total 54 ASTM International Standards as identical Bahraini national standards. In the past year, 12 ASTM standards were consulted for the preparation of new Bahraini national standards. The majority of ASTM standards referenced were in the building and construction sectors. 

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, environmental, and economic conditions. More information on the MOU program can be found on the ASTM International web site www.astm.org/GLOBAL.