COMMENT: Gosstandart: quality is one of the priorities

Quality goods have been a brand of our country for many years now. Both here and abroad they know: under the “Made in Belarus” brand, a successful purchase is always guaranteed. it is not without reason that in September the President proposed declaring 2024 the Year of Quality - we definitely have something to be proud of here. On World Quality Day, which this year was celebrated on November 9, Gosstandart found out how Belarusians manage to maintain a high brand of products, is it true that we owe this to Soviet GOSTs and why our standards are unique.

- There is an opinion that many Belarusian quality standards are almost a copy of Soviet GOSTs. How have standards changed over the past three decades?

Valentin TATARITSKY, Chairman of Gosstandart:

- During its independent development, our country has created the “Made in Belarus” brand, which today is known and enjoys high consumer confidence in more than 160 countries around the world.

The foundation of this result is the intellectual and technical capabilities of the national quality infrastructure, as well as the effective operation of industries and enterprises in the production of competitive products and services. The systematic development of these areas is currently coordinated by the “Quality 2021-2025” program adopted at the government level.

As for standards, in our country both industry and consumers trust them. The use of these documents, developed openly and based on consensus of the state, business and society, guarantees a high level of safety and quality of products and services. Standards embody the best experience and advanced technologies, optimize costs, ensure unification and interchangeability when setting up production, and reduce technical barriers to trade. Each standard is unique because it contains the knowledge of entire generations and is a ready-made technical solution for production.

- What standards are in force in Belarus today?

Their total fund exceeds 31,200 documents, 82% of which are interstate standards, known to all of us as GOSTs. Yes, these standards were inherited from the Soviet Union. And this was a wise decision made by our predecessors in 1992 in order to preserve mutual trade, production and cooperation ties between enterprises in the post-Soviet space. As you can see, this works effectively even now. After all, it was GOSTs that became an instrument for barrier-free trade, ensuring safety, quality and progress within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union.

Belarus participates in the development of GOSTs and accepts these standards as state standards, taking into account the interests of the economy and integration, including for the implementation of cooperation projects. That is, it applies them the same way they are used in other countries of the EAEU and the CIS. Thus, this year our country will develop 148 GOSTs and put 895 GOSTs into effect.

Of course, Soviet GOSTs have changed over the past 30 years. The fund of these standards is kept up to date by the joint efforts of the CIS member states, outdated standards are being canceled, and new ones are being developed. After all, progress and market demands do not stand still. During this time, technologies have become completely different, new components and raw materials have appeared, and what can I say - entire industries! In response to progress, GOSTs also change. But at the same time, we set the task of maintaining the high status of these documents and trust: products manufactured using them must be of the best quality.

The development of new GOSTs in the CIS is being carried out at an accelerated pace not only for technical regulations of the EAEU, but also in such areas as construction, energy, environmental protection, aviation and space technology, agriculture, chemical technologies, paper technology, metallurgy, main pipeline transport, waste management, energy efficiency, services, etc.

Alexander SKURATOV, DIRECTOR of the Belarusian State Institute of Standardization and Certification (BelGISS):

- I will add that Belarusian standardization is not only GOST. This includes more than 5,000 state standards (STB), which are our national developments. We need them for regulatory support of development, for example, of new industries, or any aspects relevant to the economy or consumers of our country. For example, standards are now being developed in the field of smart industry (including smart cities, additive manufacturing, etc.), electric transport and unmanned vehicles, and innovation management. In the social sector, the emphasis is on creating an accessible environment for all. We have two standards in the area of ​​"clear language". Some categories of people have certain difficulties in perceiving and understanding information. And for such groups of people a “clear language” and a methodology for adapting information to it have been created.

Very often, national developments are subsequently offered to the interstate platform when STB receive GOST status. This allows us to set the bar for demands and promote our interests throughout the EAEU or CIS. For example, based on seven Belarusian standards in the field of environmentally friendly packaging, GOSTs will be developed for the EAEU countries. They establish requirements for determining the biodegradability of plastics under various conditions, as well as for paper bags for the collection of municipal waste. Or the requirements for chocolate and chocolate products, which have become mandatory for the EAEU countries since July of this year. They are also based on the Belarusian standard for chocolate, according to which our manufacturers have been working since 2012, maintaining a high level of quality and now establishing it in the common Eurasian market. I would like to add that GOST standards for chocolate, confectionery and fat coatings are currently being revised, in which we also intend to promote requirements that ensure fair competition and guarantee consumers that they are purchasing high-quality products.

National standardization is developing, helping the domestic industry to develop with its methods, involving it and all interested parties in the development of progressive standards.

- What allows Belarusian enterprises to maintain the high quality of their products?

Valentin TATARITSKY, Chairman of Gosstandart:

- First of all, the EXPORT orientation of our economy. We need to send more than half of the gross domestic product to the foreign market. And you can only come to any market with high-quality goods at a competitive price. This ratio for many types of Belarusian products is in our favor today.

It is important not only to win consumers, but also to maintain their trust and anticipate their expectations. The quality goals that organizations set for themselves are constantly changing. Competition in markets requires new approaches and ideas, increased competencies and knowledge in the field of quality, and mastery of the best management practices, which are based on a systemic risk-oriented approach. To date, more than 7,700 management systems have been certified in the republic for compliance with international requirements.

I would like to note that our enterprises have maintained the level of technical culture, respect for the standard and compliance with its requirements, and value consumer trust, which is only strengthening in GOST and STB in product labeling. After all, the owner of the standard is the state and in this case not only the safety, but also the quality of such products is guaranteed. Long-term consumer demand shows that buyers give preference, for example, to MEAT and dairy products manufactured in accordance with GOST. “ Doctorskaya ”, “Lyubitelskaya”, “Braunschweig” sausages, “Milk” sausages, condensed MILK - everyone immediately understands what we are talking about: these products have stood the test of time. The buyer chooses what is tasty, reliable and of high quality.

The country purposefully encourages the use of state standards. Thus, this is one of the criteria for assigning the “natural product” mark to food products. Currently in Belarus there are 123 certificates issued to 40 manufacturing enterprises for the right to label about 400 types of food products with this mark.

Oksana GRISHKEVICH, HEAD of the technical regulation and standardization department of Gosstandart:

- An important factor is that state standards are harmonized with international requirements. For example, 65% of such standards were adopted in 2023. This creates conditions for the production of products that are competitive not only in the domestic market, but also abroad, promotes the use of progressive technical solutions, and the elimination of technical barriers.

By the way, Belarus’ economic partners, including the far arc countries, are also focused on the application of international standards. Of course, each country has its own characteristics in the field of standardization and conformity assessment, but the harmonization of national standards with international requirements provides favorable conditions for products to enter these markets.

- In what areas do Belarusian quality standards exceed international ones?

Oksana GRISHKEVICH, head of the technical regulation and standardization department of Gosstandart:

- In certain areas, Belarusian standards not only surpass international ones. For example, iso international food standards are mainly testing methods to confirm food safety and quality. Our standards are unique because they contain complex requirements, including precisely those quality characteristics that make Belarusian products recognizable among others. First of all, these are standards for dairy products. They contain high quality raw materials. These are also standards for confectionery products, including chocolate. Our original developments help maintain Belarusian quality. At the same time, we establish product testing methods harmonized with international ones.

In addition to food products, one can also note standards for light industry products. They also comprehensively establish requirements for raw materials, resistance to friction, exposure to light, changes in size after washing and other characteristics important to consumers.

As for other standards that the international organizations ISO and IEC adopt in relation to technically complex products, in Belarus the standards for such products are identical. This determines the highest level of harmonization in electrical engineering and petrochemistry.

Another indicative example is that some of our national developments also include the requirements of markets in other countries. This was very useful in modern conditions, when enterprises needed to reorient their product flows. For example, to CHINA . The requirements of this market were immersed in a series of food standards and food control methods five years ago. By applying these standards, you can focus on supplying products to China.

- What work is being done to improve Belarusian quality standards?

Valentin TATARITSKY, Chairman of Gosstandart:

- Speaking strategically, last year we updated the priorities of the Standardization Development Strategy of the Republic of Belarus until 2030. Particular attention was focused on import substitution and promoting the production of goods for new markets. As the results of meetings with industry and business representatives showed, the guidelines were identified correctly.

Thus, to solve the problems of import substitution when implementing investment projects, we prepare proposals for the development of standards for new products and coordinate them with the enterprises that are included in their implementation. The emphasis is on developing standards based on the best international practices and modern requirements that are currently in force on the market.

In tactical terms, current standards are being updated. Their scientific and technical level is assessed annually. This year, 308 standards are being inspected in the automotive industry, petrochemicals, feed and feed additives, food products, electrical products, instruments and equipment, perfumes and cosmetics, lumber and timber, etc. Based on the results, 169 standards have already been canceled, the requirements of which are no longer valid relevant.

We see our key task as minimizing the time required for developing standards (GOST) so that they appear faster, which will help manufacturers quickly respond to market and technology demands. We will actively promote this within the framework of our chairmanship of the Interstate Council for Standardization, Metrology and Certification of the CIS countries. An open professional conversation on these and other pressing issues is planned in MINSK in December at the next council meeting.

Of course, we consider digitization of both the process of developing standards and their type, that is, translation into a machine-readable format, to be an effective tool in this work.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to draw the attention of industry and business to the fact that by participating in standardization processes, there is a real opportunity to determine the future of a particular industry. And this opportunity cannot be left to others. Especially today, when new markets and industry segments are opening up, and scientific and technological progress is rapidly developing.

In a situation of reorientation of export supplies, it is important for enterprises to study the requirements of other markets, initiate the development of the necessary standards, invest financial resources in this, and develop the appropriate competencies. The country's modern fleet of measuring and testing equipment and competent personnel can contribute to the creation of innovative products.

Quality is a unique multifaceted value, without which the development of society is impossible. The strength of the national economy and the well-being of citizens are concentrated in quality. Living and working according to the principles of quality means being in constant improvement, without stopping for a minute, otherwise your competitors will overtake you. Each of us is a consumer and creator of quality. The announcement of the Year of Quality, as proposed by the President of our country ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO , can be considered as a powerful motivating factor for achieving even better quality in all areas, strengthening the value of the “Made in Belarus” brand.