Lebanese RepublicMinistry of IndustryLebanese Standards Institution LIBNOR

Workshop for Developing Countries: Use of the International Guidance Standard on

Social Responsibility

Saturday, 15 May 2010

Copenhagen, Denmark

LEBANON - Brief Overview

Facts & Figures

• Surface: 10,452 Km2

• Population: 4.0 Million

• GDP per capita: US$ 6,398

• Literacy Rate: 91%

• Spoken Languages: Arabic, English French & Armenian

• Religions: Christians, Muslims, & Minorities

LEBANESE CHARACTERISTICS

• Rich History & Culture

• Quality of Life & Weather

• Strategic Geographical Location

• Quality Health Care & Education

• Skilled Human Capital

Principal Sectors of the Economy

• Tourism • Financial Services • Construction • Agriculture• Industry

GROWTH ORIENTED ECONOMIC POLICY (4 PILLARS)

• Structural Reforms• Improvement of Public Finance Stance• Privatization Implementation Program• Trade Liberalization

1- LIBNOR in brief

Is a public institution attached to the Ministry of Industry Established in 1962 by a law .

Main Mission: Issue, publish, and amend National Standards for all products and

services (construction, chemical, electrical, agro food, mechanical, etc…)

Grant the Lebanese Conformity Mark Represent Lebanon Internationally in the field of standardizationTraining

1- LIBNOR in brief

Issued ~1900 standards up to date (covering different sectors) Issued 15 NL Conformity Marks (cement products, Pipes, Medical

Oxygen, Generators) LIBNOR is a member of:

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Codex Alimentarius (Codex Contact Point) The Arab Industrial Development and Mining Organization

(AIDMO). An affiliate member of the European Committee for

Standardization (CEN)

1- LIBNOR in brief

LIBNOR has been certified for Quality Management System according to ISO 9001.

To be the first Public institution in Lebanon certified for Quality Management System

2- Lebanese Standards

2-1 Types of standards

Product standardsTest Methods and sampling TerminologyCodes of practiceSafety standardsSystem standardsEtc….

2-2 Purpose of National Standards

Facilitate exchange of goods and services

Consumer protection

Environmental protection

2- Lebanese Standards

2-3 Standards Development

Standards are discussed and prepared by technical committees formed by LIBNOR

The following public and private entities are represented:MinistriesManufacturers (ALI)Importers (Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture)LaboratoriesUniversitiesConsumer organizations, Syndicates, Associations…. International organizations (WHO,UNIDO)Others

2- Lebanese Standards

Lebanese standards are based on International standards

LIBNOR has signed the Code of Good Practice for the preparation, adoption and application of Standards (WTO/TBT Agreement)

Where international standards exist, they are adopted, except where parts of these standards are ineffective or inapplicable. Modifications to these standards should be justified.

However, Where international standards do not exist, especially for specific

Lebanese food products, LIBNOR determines the specification of products by sampling and testing.

2- Lebanese Standards

Discuss

Draft

Agree onDraft

Receive comments

FinalizeDraft

ApproveDraft- BOD

Issue of Standard-OJ

Publish and sell

Trial period

Establish Committee

Prepare draft

Sampling and tests

3- Services

3- 1 Standardization

3-2 Product Certification- NL Conformity Mark:

3-3 Training Courses / Seminars

3-4 Information Center (WTO/TBT Enquiry point)- Technical Assitance

Libnor and International Standards

Participation of LIBNOR in ISO Technical Committees

3- Services

3-2 Product Certification- NL Conformity Mark: Following a specific scheme approved by LIBNOR Preparing for the accreditation of the NL Mark according to ISO

Guide 65

Importance of NL Conformity Mark:

Improve the quality of Lebanese products Increase the level of consumer confidence in Lebanese products Increase and facilitate Lebanese exports to the international

market.

3- Services

LIBNOR provides both the private and public sectors with:

Technical consultationsTraining courses and seminars on Standardization, Quality Control

and other subjects such as Food Hygiene, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), etc …

Training courses and awareness seminars on published Lebanese standards

Seminars introducing the Lebanese- European Association Agreement, WTO/TBT Agreement and the Quality infrastructure for relevant Lebanese Stakeholders

Training sessions for university students on the quality control, standardization activities at the national and international levels

3- Services

Information Center

LIBNOR provides its customers and stakeholders with Standards and publications from several international, regional and Arab standardization bodies such as ISO, IEC, CEN, BSI, AFNOR, Codex Alimentarius, SASO, SASMO, etc …

Answers all enquiries regarding standards

SR Current Situation in Lebanon

The Civil Society sector is very active in Lebanon. Thousand of organisations are socially responsible for sustainable development in all fields.

The private sector is also socially responsible: industry, banks, services, media, insurance… had provided continuous efforts to improve their social Responsibility.

Both the civil society and the private sector had coordinated and supported the government.

Municipalities and some public entities had also proved to be social responsible.

Based on SR norms, all the above will have a new reference criteria and a better approach in implementing their social responsibility.

Some awareness activities rising on social responsibility have been carried out by several entities in LEBANON:

- Workshops and seminars carried out by Ministry of Social Affairs

- Workshops and seminars on child labor carried out by some Municipalities

- Projects and reports elaborated by some Non Governmental Organizations on curbing

corruption and promoting the principles of transparency and accountability,

consumers interests, health and safety, etc…

- Awareness rising held by some National Commissions

- Workshops, reports, articles and investigative conducted by media

- Services and research done by others (organizations and individuals).

SR Current Situation in Lebanon

Issuance of ISO 26000 in LEBANON will:

- Assist organizations in addressing their social responsibilities while respecting

cultural, societal, environmental and legal differences and economic development

conditions;

- Provide practical guidance related to operationalizing social responsibility, identifying

and engaging with stakeholders, and enhancing credibility of reports and claims made

about social responsibility;

- Increase confidence and satisfaction in organizations among their customers and

other stakeholders;

- Promote common terminology, basic definitions, working methods, and methods of

evaluation in the social responsibility field; and

- Broaden awareness of social responsibility.

SR Current Situation in Lebanon

Until now, there is no a mirror committee on ISO/SR.

LIBNOR is working hardly to finalize the last touch in creating this committee very soon (few weeks).

The main difficulty that still encountering in establishing the national mirror committee is the fact that the SR norms will eventually become mandatory for the different stakeholders and will cost them a lot of money to implement these standards.

YASA is very interested to be an active member in the national mirror committee and is giving entire support and working with LIBNOR.

SR Current Situation in Lebanon

• NGO established in 1994 after the death of Tarek Assi ( 19 years old) in a tragic car crash.

• Works on Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention in the Middle East region.

• Aiming at reducing deaths and disabilities due to unintentional injuries.• Built, over the past years, a great reputation in safety promotion and

injury prevention especially traffic safety.

YASA’s mission :• Safety promotion and injury prevention through education, research,

lobbying and advocacy.• YASA also provides social assistance to injury victims.

YASA International Achievements

• YASA has participated in more than sixty international safety events • WHO Safety Conference :

- YASA had 4 abstracts accepted in Vienna 2004

- 8 abstracts were accepted in South Africa 2006

• Since 2001 YASA started having international affiliations and Collaborations:

– Memberships to international organizations: • Prevention Routière Internationale – PRI• European Federation for Road Victims – FEVR

– Collaboration with International Organizations:• World Health Organization – WHO Geneva• World Health Organization – WHO EMRO

Major YASA Projects

• Traffic Safety Educational Garden• Traffic Crash Simulation• Driver Improvement Program• Promotion of International Cooperation• Safety in Road Construction Sites• Training Traffic Police• Awareness campaigns for Water, Sport, School, Domestic and Fire Safety. • Traffic Crash Simulation • Detailed Analysis of Road Safety• National Defensive Driving Campaign • Two Way Communication Between Police and Public• Safety in Road Construction Sites• Driver’s manual• Traffic safety books

Traffic Safety Educational Garden

• Children 6-12 years

• Traffic Safety Education in a Fun way (seatbelt + helmet)

Traffic Crash Simulation

Has done over 300 simulations in collaboration with the emergency bodies.

Partnership with Radio and Televisions

• Over the past years YASA had regular Radio and TV interventions on most Arab-speaking Satellite stations.• Among them :

– Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI)– Future TV– New TV– Al Arabia TV– Lebanese Television– Kuwait TV– MBC TV– Orbit TV– ANB TV– NBN TV

Partnership with Newspapers

• YASA has partnerships with Lebanese and Arab Newspapers (arab-speaking and french and english-speaking) such as:– An Nahar– L’Orient-Le Jour– Daily Star– Al Mustaqbal – Al Hayat– Al Bayan– Al Khaleej– Al Itihhad– Al Shark Al Awsat

Yasa has a very appreciate exposure on TV, radios and newspapers and hasthe know how to organize seminars in order to communicate any information

about ISO SR.

Yasa has planed a policy in this issue with LIBNOR.

Since Quebec meeting and Yasa/LIBNOR partnership, we have organised around 25 meetings and workshops with different stakeholders from the « 5 » major sectors to promote SR norms in Lebanon.

Yasa flexibility can afford this synergy between the following pillars:

Media

Private Sector

NGO

LIBNOR

GovernmentMinistries

SchoolsUniversities

Yasa will continue working on disseminating “ISO SR culture” and texts. As we have a high exposure on all kind of media, we will use this “privilege” to launch a media campaign in this issue. As an NGO, we are highly aware about the positive role of private and governmental sectors in the field of social responsibility and in supporting NGOs in their works.

Collaboration between Yasa, and Private sector (Industry)

Example of collaboration between Yasa, EU, NGO and Security Forces

Thank You for your Attention!

Any Questions?

www.libnor.org www.yasa.org