Israeli Standardization
What is a Standard?
A standard is a document that details the applicable requirements for a product or a service so that it will conform to its purpose.
There are also standards that are intended to define guidelines, test methods, or terms.
The Standards Institution of Israel, and it alone, is authorized to determine specifications or technical rules for a work process, including technical definitions, as Israeli Standards while assuring compliance with the Standard Rules and the Standards Law.
The standardization division at the Standards Institution coordinates the development of the standards. It provides the infrastructure for standardization via hundreds of public committees consisting of thousands of representatives and experts from different sectors of the economy, including manufacturers, consumers, contractors, importers, scientific and research institutions, testing laboratories, government representatives, and more.
Who Uses the Standards?
The standards are used by all sectors of the economy, including the industrial sector, the construction industry, consumers, government ministries, and commercial enterprises.
Official Standards
Israeli Standards published by the Standards Institution of Israel are voluntary standards. However, the Minister of the Economy and Industry may declare all or part of a particular standard as an Official Standard after consulting with representatives of manufacturers and consumers – if it is proven necessaryto achieve one of the following objectives:
- Protection of public health;
- Protection of public safety;
- Protection of the environment;
- Provision of information where there is none, or where there is no alternative mechanism that protects the consumers;
- Ensuring compatibility of products or alternatives for them;
- Prevention of significant economic damage that may be caused to consumers as a result of visible or non-visible systems, materials, or products used in construction.
Duty to Conform to an Official Standard
A product covered by a standard that has been declared as an Official Standard may not be produced, sold, imported, or used for work if the technical rules for the work process have been declared as an Official Standard unless the product or work process conforms to the requirements of the Official Standard.
The Commissioner of Standardization at the Ministry of the Economy and Industry is responsible for auditing and ensuring compliance with the Official Standard. Therefore, they may audit and supervise markets at any given time to ensure that the requirements are upheld, in accordance with the Standards Law.
During an audit, any person certified for this purpose by the Commissioner of Standardization may take a sample of any goods for testing and seize and detain anything for which there are grounds to believe they violate the provisions of the Standards Law. The engineers of the Commissioner of Standardization at the Ministry of Economy and Industry perform investigations following initiated audits or complaints. If it is determined that the provisions of the Standards Law have been violated, legal measures are taken against the business owners, importers, or manufacturers.
Writing an Israeli Standard
Standardization is initiated and approved
A draft standard is written for public comment
Public comment and discussion of the public feedback
Approval of the standard
Editing and publication of the standard
Request to Write a Standard, Revision, or Amendment
An initiative for standardization may originate from any party in the economy. See the links below for online request forms to prepare a standard, revision or amendment.
Complete the appropriate form and your request will be sent for discussion to the appropriate central committee, which will decide whether to approve the matter for standardization.