UN’s SHF moves to bolster participation of emerging economies in ongoing ISO/SIS process for global standards for menstrual products
Today, more than 600 million women and girls in LMICs - a staggering one in three - rely on toilet paper, rags, and other non-purpose-made materials to manage their menstruation, impacting their health, education, socio-economic participation and ultimately their future
GENEVA/STOCKHOLM, 2 October 2024 – The UN’s Sanitation and Hygiene Fund [SHF] is to give Swedish Institute for Standards [SIS] a grant of US$ 250,000 to support the participation of Low- and Middle-Income Countries [LMICs] in the development of global quality standards for menstrual products.
As the secretariat of the technical committee of the International Organisation for Standardisation [ISO] – ISO/TC 338 Menstrual Products – SIS will use the funding to provide National Standards Bodies [NSBs] from LMICs with training, partnering with more experienced NSBs and supporting up to 10 countries to fully participate in all aspects of the standardisation work and encourage subsequent national adoption.
Today, more than 600 million women and girls in LMICs – a staggering one in three – rely on toilet paper, rags, and other non-purpose-made materials to manage their menstruation, impacting their health, education, socio-economic participation and ultimately their future.
While single-use pads or tampons are prohibitively expensive for many, more affordable menstrual product innovations face an important barrier to be imported and sold in LMICs, such as the lack of global product standards which are fundamental to manufacturing, retail and trade.
The ISO Technical Committee led by SIS, is presently working to develop global menstrual product standards in four categories: single- and multi-use products worn externally or internally, covering everything from pads and tampons to period-underwear and menstrual cups, by mid-2027. The resulting standards will become the global framework but national adoption depends on each country. Currently, a little over 15 percent of LMICs are represented in the technical committee, while their needs are the greatest.
“It is hard to believe that the process to develop global quality standards for products used by almost 2 billion people every month has only just started recently and it is up to us now to ensure that this process is truly global,” said Sue Coates, Deputy Executive Director SHF and Lead for Capital M, SHF’s market-led moonshot for menstrual health.
“Global quality standards will have direct impacts on the menstrual product choices available to the millions of women and girls in LMICs currently relying on non-purpose-made materials. By ensuring an inclusive, global process, we can level the playing field, for countries to participate in the process and adopt the standards nationally, for markets and businesses to grow and scale, and most importantly, for women and girls and the choices they make,” Coates added.
“We are grateful for the SHF donation, which allows us to continue our long-term work on this important initiative. Most importantly, it will enable LMICs to fully participate in the development. The funding will also be used to raise awareness about the benefits of standardization in these countries, and how it can increase productivity and competitiveness, ultimately improving health and prosperity,” said Annika Andreasen, CEO, SIS.
ISO standards are global industry standards. Defined as jointly agreed solutions to recurrent problems, they are found in every area: from the simplest nail and screw to data communications, healthcare, and the environment. Standards have an impact on virtually every aspect of our lives. While voluntary, they form the basis for many ISO members when they adopt these into national binding standards. Including LMICs into the development is crucial to reflect the needs and preferences of women and girls around the world, and to leverage the experience of several LMICs in developing standards for reusable menstrual products.
“Uganda is one of the countries that has made significant progress in menstrual health products standardisation and we can offer expertise and share the information and research we have conducted. This will be beneficial in the development of the international standard. Standards help to set consistent requirements for quality and safety, so at the end consumers get products that meet a certain, defined quality and standard…whether they are in Africa, Uganda, or more advanced economies,” stated Elijah Kiwanuka, Technical Product Manager, AFRIpads while representing the Uganda National Bureau of Standards [UNBS] at a recent ISO meeting in Copenhagen.
SHF funding will enable SIS to increase the participation of LMICs and support the dissemination of the final standards in these countries building the foundations for increased manufacturing, retail and trade. This is essential to ensure women and girls can choose from a range of quality, affordable menstrual products where they live. This is our ambition with Capital M: build a thriving menstrual health market for all. and also the focus of a new Commitment to Action launched with the Clinton Global Initiative in New York this week. Other donors to the SIS Capacity Building programme include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
https://thecooperator.news/soroti-residents-skilled-in-making-reusable-sanitary-pads-liquid-soap/
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