General Standards
In Myanmar, there exist standards for many fields such as pharmaceuticals, food safety, vehicle safety and emissions. However there are few standards for imported products other than food and pharmaceuticals, and there are no product safety regulations. The black market is one of the major difficulties that intensify the problem of standards enforcement. The country is filled with unregistered products imported illegally from the neighboring states.
Myanmar is a corresponding member of the International Organization for Standardization and a member of the ASEAN. As part of the ASEAN, the country participates in the ASEAN Consultative Committee on Standards and Quality and is a signatory to various ASEAN agreements on standards and regulatory harmonization.
Standards organizations
Myanmar does not have a central standardization body and as a result the responsibility for drafting and enforcing standards is performed multiple government departments.
Some of the major standards bodies of Myanmar are the following:
The Ministry of Health’s Food and Drug Board of Authority (FDBA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – these two bodies are responsible for promulgating and enforcing regulations and standards in the food and pharmaceutical industries (including imports).
The Ministry of Health’s Public Health Department together with other multiple Development Committees, is responsible for licensing and enforcing hygiene standards.
Myanmar Engineers Association is responsible for establishing building codes and standards.
The Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) is responsible for establishing weights and measures used countrywide.
The Timber Certification Committee of Myanmar (TCCM) is a government body responsible for monitoring timber certification process and distribute Myanmar timber to the international market.
Conformity Assessment
The National Health Laboratory and the affiliated Food Quality Control Laboratory and Drug Quality Control Laboratory (run by the Ministry of Health) is responsible for the conformity assessment in Myanmar. It should be mentioned that the conformity assessments and the enforcements of standards are variable.
Product Certification
There are no requirements for product certification, except for food products and medicines. Regarding imported goods (and some locally produced goods of international quality) international product standard certification is generally recognized, as well as certification from standards organizations in the United States, Europe, and Japan. The countries government does not accept product certification from neighboring countries, especially from China, Thailand, and India because of the counterfeiting. At present, Myanmar does not have laws or regulations regarding Genetically Modified Organism crops or seeds, and as a result these products are currently imported without any restrictions.
Accreditation
The Myanmar National Accreditation Body (MNAB) is the main accrediting agency in Myanmar.
Contacts
Department of Food and Drug Administration
Ministry of Health and Sports
Website: http://www.fdamyanmar.gov.mm/index.php/en/
Address: Pyigyi Zayyar Road,(in front of Sabel Housing), Zayyar Thiri Ward, Zabu Thiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.
Tel: 067-403609
Fax: 067-403350
