Germany - China Standards Information Portal

The Working Group (WG) Standardization of the German-Chinese Joint Committee of Industry and Trade held its fourth session on 12 June 2009 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. The delegations comprised 33 representatives of the two governments, of national standardization organisations, associations and science and research institutes. The delegations were headed by Mr. Zhang Jianwei, Vice Administrator of the Standardization Administration of PR China (SAC) and Dr. Rainer Jäkel, head of the subdivision “Technology and Innovation Policy” in the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. DIN was represented by its Director, Dr. Torsten Bahke.

In addition to the standardization topics agreed upon in earlier meetings as those to be given high priority – energy efficiency, ultra high voltage, nanotechnology, sensory analysis and product characteristics – the working group identified further areas where cooperation in standards work should be enhanced and intensified.

The topics suggested by the Chinese were heat treatment, steel alloy, steel wire and wire rod, industrial wireless, automation, and electrical equipment and systems for railways. The delegations agreed to pursue these topics together above all at international level (in ISO and IEC) and in particular to improve the mutual exchange of relevant information. Both parties emphasized how important it is for the results of international standardization activities to be adopted without change at national level.

At the suggestion of the German delegation, the working group then turned its attention to standardization activities in the fields of environmental products, measures against product piracy and food safety. In connection with product piracy it was resolved to set up a joint experts working group at technical level. The German proposal to organize a joint seminar on IPR protection was accepted.

During the meeting, the Germany-China Standards Information Portal developed jointly by SAC and DIN was presented, and both parties agreed that the portal should be launched as a trial operation immediately. It is planned for the official opening, with high-ranking representatives of both governments, to follow within the course of the year.

On 11 June 2009, at the invitation of the Zhejiang Institute for Standardization, the Director of DIN gave a presentation on standardization in Germany and in Europe to a large audience of representatives of local SMEs.