SIRIM secures Gulf Conformity Marking Scheme
are able to penetrate the GCC member states‘ markets. This, in turn, will benefit us in terms of opening up access to the Gulf markets for Malaysian companies.
“We can be a one-stop centre for these manufacturers to obtain the Gulf Conformity Mark as we are not only authorised to provide product certification service under the Gulf Conformity marking system for low-voltage electrical equipment and appliances, but we can also perform tests on these electrical products.
“The marking is not a quality mark, but rather a marking that signifies the conformity of products to the essential requirements of health, safety and environment,” he said recently.
The GCC member states are the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and the Republic of Yemen.
The Gulf Conformity Marking Scheme is owned by the GCC Standardisation Organisation (GSO), which is also responsible to establish and implement techni- cal regulations for GCC.
“The Gulf Conformity Marking Scheme was established by GSO to enable GCC to meet its objectives of reducing the technical barriers of trade and facilitating the free movement of commodities across borders within the GCC member states.
“Therefore, electrical products bearing G Marks indicate that they comply with the safety essential requirements and electromagnetic compatibility requirements stipulated in the Gulf Technical Regulation for low-voltage electrical equipment and appliances,” he added.
Prior to being accepted as a GCC GSO- notified body, Sirim QAS International had to undergo a stringent assessment in accordance with ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation standard by the GCC Accreditation Centre. This accreditation signifies that Sirim QAS International‘s capability and competency are at par with other foreign Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) in the world.
As a GSO Notified Body, SIRIM QAS International is authorised to provide product certification service under the Gulf Conformity marking system for low-voltage electrical equipment and appliances. Thus, manufacturers of electrical products can obtain G Mark from SIRIM QAS International at a competitive cost.
Electrical equipment and appliances which are under the G Marking scheme include, among others, electrical fans, refrigerators and freezers, dryers and washing machines, food grinders, toasters, microwave ovens, electric irons, airconditioners and others. GSO is in the process of listing a few more product categories under low-voltage electrical equipment and appliances.