Tehran – The Iranian parliament has formally approved a bill that will allow them to participate in Asia-Pacific Accredited Cooperation (APAC), a well-known regional organization focusing on strengthening accreditation standards and fostering cooperation between member states.
During the public session on Wednesday, lawmakers considered and discussed the bill, and the Congressional Committee on Industry and Mines presented a detailed report on its provisions. After thorough deliberations, the bill received 212 lawmakers attending the ballot, with 184 votes, 14 votes and two abstentions.
The newly approved law gives the Iranian government the authority to officially participate in the APAC, in line with the organization’s charter aimed at promoting standard for uniform accreditation across the Asia-Pacific region. The bill also outlines the government’s role in requiring Iran to make necessary payments for membership fees and determining which executive bodies are responsible for overseeing participation in the organization, and modifying as needed.
One important amendment to the bill proposed by Abhar’s president Mansour Alimardani introduced a new requirement for the government to submit an annual report to Parliament. This report provides a detailed overview of the financial costs, obligations and benefits associated with Iran’s membership in the APAC, providing greater transparency and oversight of the state’s involvement in the organization.
Additionally, the bill includes provisions that ensure that all cases taken under this new law are governed by the Iranian constitution. Specifically, the principles outlined in Articles 4, 77, 125 and 139 of the Constitution must be respected throughout the implementation process, strengthening the legal framework and ensuring compatibility between law and state regulations.
The passage of this bill marks an important milestone in Iran’s efforts to strengthen relations with local organisations and strengthen its role in the global accreditation and standardization process.
APAC was established in 2019 following the merger of two regional organizations, the Asia-Pacific Research Institute Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) and the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC). The organization focuses on promoting mutual recognition of conformity assessments. This will help promote trade and strengthen trust in member countries’ products and services.