1. THE GCC EXPERIENCE IN QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
Icphso
Asia-pacific Consumer Product Safety Symposium
International Cooperation On Product Safety
October 31 – November 2, Seoul Korea
THE GCC EXPERIENCE IN QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
Abdesselam Benyaich
Conformity Assessment Specialist
GCC - STANDARDIZATION ORGANIZATION
P.O. Box Riyadh KSA
Web : / MAIL :
PHONE : EXT : 310 / FAX :

2. GCC / GSO
GCC introduction, The Gulf Single Market
Strategy Deployment, GSO introduction
The RCAS Project
The Gulf Regulatory System For Product Monitoring - The Gulf Single Market (GRSM)
The GRSM's components
Pre-market Assessment
Complementary Systems
Post-Market Control
Conclusion
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3. GCC Introduction, The Gulf Single Market :
Creation in 1981
Main Objectives
Effective coordination, integration and inter-connection in all fields in order to achieve unity
Deep and strength relations, links and areas of cooperation in various fields
Unifying regulations in various fields including:
Economic and financial affairs
Commerce, customs and communications
Education and culture
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4. GCC / GSO Members GCC members GSO members
State of United Arab Emirates
Kingdom of Bahrain
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Sultana of Oman
State of Qatar
State of Kuwait
GSO members
GCC members plus Republic of Yemen (2010)
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5. Kingdom of SAUDI ARABIA State of UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
GCC
GSO
Area
(thousand m2)
2,423.3
2,951.3
Population Estimated 2009
(Million)
41.7
65.0
GDP 2009
(current US$ Billion )
872.0
899.0
GDP per Capita Estimated 2009
(Current US$ Thousand)
20,926.0
13,822.0
Merchandise Trade Export 2010
(Current US$ Billion)
457.0
462.1
Fuels and Mining Products (%)
72.8
72.9
Merchandise Trade Import 2010
(US$ Billion)
254.7
260.8
Manufactured Products (%)
82.9
81.9
Republic of YEMEN
Kingdom of SAUDI ARABIA
State of QATAR
State of KUWAIT
State of UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Sultanate of OMAN
Kingdom of BAHRAIN
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6. GCC Economic Agreement
Established in November 1981,
Revised in December 2001
Established :
a regional single market
a customs union in which goods and services available in one Member State may be freely available in all others.
Key objective is to liberalize trade, particularly by avoiding or removing technical barriers.
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7. Strategy Deployment, GSO Introduction
Aim at achieving Free product circulation through:
Removal of technical barriers to internal and external GCC trade, deriving from national technical regulations (mandatory standards), testing, and certification procedures.
And consumers protection through:
Setting up the essential requirements to safety and security, and providing effective technical tools to translate them technically and to attest conformity to them.
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8. GSO Introduction
A regional organization established under the umbrella of the GCC
Superseded the Gulf Standards and Metrology Organization GSMO ( )
Administrative and financial autonomy
Began operation in May 2004
Headquarter : Riyadh, KSA
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9. GSO Main Functions…
Formulation, preparation and publication of GCC standards & technical regulations.
Formulation of GCC conformity assessment procedures, legal and industrial metrology, quality and other related standardization activities on the GCC level.
Awareness, capacity building, etc.
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10. …GSO Main Functions
Protection of the consumer, public health and environment.
Facilitation of intra GCC trade as well as international trade and elimination of technical barriers to trade.
Harmonization of GCC standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures with international accepted standards and practices.
Support GCC industry and services.
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11. GSO Standards Total number of GCC Standards is 6125 (2011).
23% technical regulations (mandatory standards), mainly in agricultural, chemical, and textile sectors.
Degree of relevance :
40% (ISO),
80% (IEC) in electrical field,
Cover major economic sectors.
Prepared by technical committees through consensus of all stakeholders.
Approved by GSO Board of Directors on recommendations by GSO Technical Council.
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12. Standards Development…
Based on the requirements of health, safety, performance, environment and consumer protection.
Meeting the requirements of industry, import, export, public procurement and international trade.
Meeting the requirements of TBT Agreement and Annex III.
Adoption of International Standards in their original language
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13. …Standards Development
Standards are developed by GCC Standards Technical Committees, eight TCs:
food & agriculture, electrical & electronics, mechanical & mineral, chemical & textile, metrology, Construction…)
Mirror National Technical Committees
Fast track measures : direct adoption of Int’l standards, to speed up the process of adoption (20%)
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14. Benefits Of Standardization
Provide technological, economic and societal benefits;
Cost effectiveness;
Dissemination of technology;
Provide the technological and scientific bases underpinning health, safety and environmental legislation;
Boost Quality : Process, Products, etc…
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15. Challenges “Standardization” awareness.
Building and implementation of sound standardization infrastructure & practices.
Meeting GCC economic development needs of the GCC Custom Union & Common Market via a regional approach (conformity assessment, metrology and accreditation).
Participation of all stakeholders.
Capacity building.
Positive participation in various international forums & activities (i.e. ISO’s TC…)
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16. The Regional Conformity Assessment Scheme (RCAS)
In dealing with its duties related to studies and strategies development, GSO has conducted a technical study to develop member states strategy on the quality infrastructure aiming at achieving the political orientations
The study has been conducted during 66 weeks between 2005 and 2007
The main conclusion and recommendations of the project lead to a Regional Framework called Regional Conformity Assessment Scheme (RCAS)
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17. RCAS Main Recommendations
Gradual change of the concept based on use of mandatory standards,
Technical regulations development based upon essential requirements, while maintaining standards as voluntary,
Adoption of the European New and Global approach as model in developing the “Gulf unified Regulatory System for Product Monitoring - GRSPM”,
Creation of a Gulf Conformity Mark,
Unified regulatory regime for GCC market surveillance,
Unified law on product liability for all Member States…
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18. THE REGULATORY SYSTEM FOR PRODUCT MONITORING IN THE GULF SINGLE MARKET

19. GSO Quality Infrastructure System
Quality Infrastructure Elements
GSO Quality Infrastructure System
Enforcement: Market Surveillance – Information Exchange …
Technical Regulations
Standards
Inspection
Testing
Certification
Metrology
Conformity Assessment
Accreditation
Institutions / Legal framework
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20. Institutions
A permanent committee : The GCC committee for Conformity Assessment (GCCA) has been formed to comprise representatives from every member state, and is responsible for technical regulation development…
While The GCC General committee for standardization is responsible for standards development
Interface procedure between standards development and Technical Regulations (TRs) development processes, to facilitate…
…the gradual change of mandatory technical standards, while developing TRs covering specific ranges of products or risks
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21. Legal Framework Comprises legal instruments for:
Defective products liability,
General Requirement for Safety of products, and respective responsibilities of economic operators,
Respective roles of Government and non government bodies involved in conformity assessment
Market Monitoring procedures
Ongoing work will lead to a single law on :
"Manufactured product Safety"
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22. Technical Regulations…
Comprise Horizontal TRs applicable to all Types of products or risks:
Adopted
General Safety of products,
GCC Conformity Mark,
Notified Bodies,
Modules of Conformity Assessment
Being adopted
Defective products liability
Market Surveillance
Rapid Exchange of information on risks
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23. …Technical Regulations
…and Other TRs applicable to specific Types of products or risks:
Adopted
Toys
Electrical Equipment & Devices (Low Voltage Products)
Planned
Construction material
Machines
Lifts …
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24. Standards Are developed through a transparent process
Provide Technical Requirements for various purposes…
Safety – Security – Environment – Performance – Quality…
And for various operators
Governments – Manufacturers – Civil Community – Importers…
Encourage the use of International Standards
Develop detailed technical requirements under consensus, to translate technically the essential requirements on safety and security and to assess conformity to them
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25. Two parts of compliance monitoring system:
PRE-MARKET ASSESSMENT
Products placed on the market must fulfil essential requirements. The manufacturer assures this by affixing the GCC marking on the product
POST-MARKET CONTROL
Member States must control that the products in their markets are in compliance with the essential requirements. This is done by national authorities using market surveillance
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26. Approach to Conformity Assessment
Manufacturer (or his authorised representative) is responsible for conformity, therefore:
The manufacturer shall use defined procedures of conformity assessment “Modules.”
The Modules are adopted from European modules of conformity assessment, some of them need the intervention of Notified Bodies.
He is free to choose any suitable Notified Body, including those in the country of origin.
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27. Modules Of Conformity Assessment
Module A
GCC Conformity Mark
Module C
Module D
Manufacturer
Module B
Module E
Module F
Module G
Module H
Design
Production
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28. Notified Bodies
Designation and notification of conformity assessment bodies is the responsibility of member states (according to the procedure of notification and the GCC guide on notified bodies)
Applicable Technical requirements on competency derive from international Standards issued by ISO/CASCO (GSO has adopted all of them by decision of its Board of Directors)
Designation is open to CABs situated outside of member states territory (provided they have a legal representation in member states territory)
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29. Conformity Assessment Procedures – Role of Producers
To determine applicable TRs and modules of CA
To choose suitable notified body (if applicable)
To conduct applicable conformity assessment procedure
To draw up the Technical File
Provide information on design, production and other product operations;
To issue the GCC declaration of conformity
Provides information on product traceability
Affix the GCC conformity mark
Free putting and circulation of products within the single market
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30. Complementary Systems : Accreditation
A single accreditation body “Gulf Accreditation Center – GAC“ is created and will provide accreditation services to all CA bodies within GCC.
GAC will take advantage from existing accreditation bodies
This will be of benefit in concluding MRAs and MLAs within ILAC and IAF
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31. Complementary Systems : Metrology
Establishment of “Steering Committee for Measurements and Calibrations – SCMC”
And Sub committees in : Mechanical – Electrical & Physical fields
Approval of GCC common law on Measurements and Calibrations
Establishment of “GULF MET”
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32. Market Monitoring Programs
Comprises the following:
Complaints record and follow system
Accidents record and follow system
Market surveillance
Risk Assessment and information exchange
Data bases development
On Products
On producers
On importation operations…
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33. Advantages of the Approach
Harmonization of Technical Regulations Conformity Assessment Procedure among the member states, concluding to simplification of applicable technical procedures to producers
Availability of a coherent set of Gulf standards, which do not compete with each other
Same rules for importers and GCC manufacturers
Gives opportunity to manufacturers to adopt technical solution to ensure compliance to essential requirements, without applying referenced standards. This encourages technology development.
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34. THANK YOU