The General Directorate of Standardization (Drejtoria e Përgjithshme e Standardizimit – DPS) is Albania’s national standardization body and the public institution responsible for developing, adopting and promoting standards in the country. Established in 1951, DPS operates under the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation and represents Albania in European and international standardization activities. It develops Albanian standards and adopts European and international standards as Albanian Standards, helping align the country’s regulatory and business environment with international practices.

DPS represents Albania in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), where it is a Correspondent Member. It is an Affiliate of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), an Associate Member of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and a Full Member of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). Through these roles, DPS participates in European and international standardization activities and facilitates the adoption of international standards in Albania.

The organization works with government institutions, businesses, consumer representatives, academic institutions and technical experts in the development of standards. Its activities include drafting Albanian standards, adopting European and international standards, providing standards-related information and services, supporting the removal of technical barriers to trade, and operating Albania’s WTO Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) enquiry point.

National standardization activities are carried out through a system of technical bodies that includes the Technical Board, Technical Committees, project committees and working groups. DPS coordinates these activities using procedures aligned with international and European standardization practices, ensuring that stakeholders can participate in the preparation and review of standards.

A key mechanism for stakeholder participation is the National Standardization Forum, which brings together organizations and individuals interested in standardization and provides opportunities to contribute to technical committees and standards development work. DPS also maintains cooperation agreements with national, regional and international organizations involved in standardization, quality infrastructure and economic development.

DPS is governed by a Governing Board and a Technical Board and is headed by a Director General. Its organizational structure includes units responsible for standards development, relations with stakeholders, standards information and sales, and cooperation with European and international standardization organizations.

For more information, please visit its official website.