Standardization is the set of techniques designed to define the products and / or the manufacturing methods suitable for meeting specified needs. In the industrial field, it refers to the process of developing a standard based on usage and best practice. Standards give confidence in products; they guarantee quality, safety and reliability.

In the specific objective 2 of the West Africa Quality System Program (WAQSP), one of the important activities is to support the organization of the harmonization of standards initiated in 2013.

As part of the harmonization of standards in the region, according to ECOSHAM, six (06) technical committees have been set up and are all operational to date. Committees: THC1 (Agricultural Products), THC2 (Food Products), THC3 (Chemicals), THC4 (Building Materials), THC5 (Electro-technical Products) and THC6 (Tourism) have prepared final drafts harmonized Standards ECOSTANDS (FDHS). These final drafts harmonized standards were reviewed and finalized by the ECOSHAM Technical Management Committee (TMC).

At the end of the Meeting of Ministers in charge of the Quality of ECOWAS Member States, held from 19 to 20 October 2017, at the Gawaye Hotel in Niamey (Niger), 53 drafts harmonized standards ECOSTANDS were examined and then validated, bringing to 94 the number of regional standards developed.