DUSHANBE, January 24, 2011, Asia-Plus /Rasoul Shodon/ -- Tojikstandart (agency for standardization, metrology, certification and trade inspection) will be restructured and split up into several agencies in 2013, the Tojikstandart deputy director Mirali Olimov remarked at a meeting that took place here on January 21 to discuss issues related to Tajikistan’s joining the World Trade Organization (WTO).

According to him, it is necessary to establish an independent accreditation center and differentiate functions of technical regulations approval and certification.

“One of conditions of entry into the WTO for Tajikistan is restructuring of Tojikstandart,” noted Olimov.  “Tajikistan should reform its system.  For this, it is necessary to differentiate voluntary standards and compulsory technical regulations.”

We will recall that the Working Party on the accession of Tajikistan to the WTO was established by the General Council on July 18 2001.  A Factual Summary of Points Raised (summarizing the discussions on the Working Party) was circulated informally in April 2205 and subsequently revised in May 2006.  Bilateral market access negotiations are under way on the basis of revised offers in goods and services.  The Working Party held its fourth meeting in September 2009 to continue the examination of Tajikistan’s foreign trade regime.