Overview
Tunisian consumers are gradually becoming aware of their right to expect that the goods they purchase meet certain standards, such as for safety. Products available on the flourishing parallel market in Tunisia often do not meet acceptable safety standards.
Standards
Tunisia is currently embracing ISO 9001 standards. The National Institute for Standardization and Industrial Property (INNORPI) is responsible for establishing national standards and has instituted ISO 14000 certification procedures. Many firms in the industrial sector have already achieved ISO 9001 certification.
Testing, Inspection, and Certification
The Tunisian Accreditation Council (TUNAC) is the national accreditation agency. TUNAC evaluates and accredits conformity assessment bodies (i.e., laboratories and inspection and certification bodies) in accordance with relevant national and international standards.
TUNAC has mutual recognition agreements with the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the European Cooperation for Accreditation (EA) for the accreditation of laboratories for analysis, testing, and calibration.
TUNAC is also a signatory of the mutual recognition agreements with the International Accreditation Forum and the EA for the accreditation of certification bodies for quality and environmental management systems.
International testing laboratories and agencies, including those from the United States, are allowed to operate in the market.
Publication of Technical Regulations
INNORPI (http://www.innorpi.tn/en) is responsible for publishing and coordinating the creation of norms and standards and information relating to these, as well as developing general technical regulation programs.
Contact Information
Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are required under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) to notify to the WTO proposed technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures that could affect trade. Notify U.S. (www.nist.gov/notifyus) is a free, web-based e-mail registration service that captures and makes available for review and comment key information on draft regulations and conformity assessment procedures. Users receive customized e-mail alerts when new notifications are added by a selected country or countries and industry sector(s) of interest and can also request full texts of regulations. This service and its associated website are managed and operated by the USA WTO TBT Inquiry Point housed within the National Institute of Standards and Technology, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
• Tunisian Accreditation Council (Conseil National d’Accreditation – TUNAC)
Address : 8, Rue de l’Assistance par la Rue Alain Savary,
Cité EL Khadhra 1003 Tunis, Tunisia
Tel: +216 71 806 431 / +216 71 806 916
Fax: +216 71 809 407
Email: tunac@tunac.tn
Website: http://www.tunac.tn
• The National Institute for Standardization and Industrial Property (Institut National de la Normalisation et de la Propriété Industrielle – INNORPI)
Headquarters in Tunis: Rue 8451 n° 8 par la rue Alain Savary,
BP 57 – Cité El Khadra – 1003 Tunis – Tunisia
Tel: +216 71 806 758 / Fax: +216 71 807 071
Email: contact@innorpi.tn
Website: http://www.innorpi.tn
• Sfax Regional Center: 1, rue Bejaya 3000 Sfax - Tunisia
Tel: +216 74 298 223 / Fax: +216 74 211 356