Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) maintains a developing product compliance framework with emphasis on consumer protection, public health, and import quality control. It operates under a mix of national legislation, Jordanian legacy laws, and international standards (ISO, IEC, Codex). Product regulation is managed by several ministries, and conformity is enforced mainly through import permits and border checks.

Key Authorities:

• Palestinian Standards Institution (PSI) – Develops Palestinian Standards (PS) and oversees certification and quality assurance.

• Ministry of Health (MoH) – Regulates pharmaceuticals, medical devices, cosmetics, and food supplements, including product registration.

• Ministry of Telecom and Information Technology (MTIT) – Handles telecom regulations and RF spectrum management, including limited type approval.

• General Administration of Customs, Excise and VAT (Ministry of Finance) – Enforces import regulations and reviews product conformity at borders.

Key Compliance Elements:

• Standards and Certification (PSI):

  • PSI develops and enforces compulsory standards for:

    • Electrical products

    • Construction materials

    • Food items

    • Packaged consumer goods

  • PSI certification or Certificate of Conformity (CoC) may be required before customs clearance.

  • Products may be tested locally or presented with foreign certifications (e.g., ISO, CE, SASO) depending on the category.

• Product Registration (Ministry of Health):

  • Required for:

    • Medicines and vaccines

    • Medical devices and diagnostics

    • Cosmetics and food supplements

  • Registration requires:

    • Product dossier

    • Safety/clinical data

    • GMP/ISO certificate

    • Labeling in Arabic and English

    • Certificate of free sale or equivalent from the country of origin

• Telecom Equipment (MTIT):

  • All RF and telecom equipment must receive import authorization.

  • There is no formal type approval scheme, but CE or FCC compliance is generally accepted as technical support documentation.

  • MTIT may impose restrictions based on frequency compatibility.

• Labeling Requirements:

  • Labels must be in Arabic (bilingual Arabic/English is common), and include:

    • Product name

    • Manufacturer/importer contact

    • Country of origin

    • Usage instructions and warnings

    • Expiry/batch number (for health products)

    • Registration or certification ID (if applicable)

• Import Oversight:

  • Required documentation includes:

    • Invoice and packing list

    • Certificate of origin

    • Certificate of conformity (if regulated by PSI)

    • Product registration certificate (MoH-regulated items)

    • Authorization from MTIT (for telecom equipment)

• Market Surveillance:

PSI, Ministry of Health, and customs conduct spot checks and inspections, especially for pharmaceuticals, electronics, and food products. Non-compliant goods may be denied entry or removed from the market.