First major conference on standardization and Conformity Assessment in Gulf region

Bahrain, one of the latest countries to join the IEC, hosted on 7-8 December 2009 an international conference on standardization and CA (Conformity Assessment) in electrotechnology. GICSE (Gulf IEC – IECEE International Conference for Standardization and Conformity Assessment in Electrotechnology) was organized by the GSO (GCC Standardization Organization), together with the Bahraini Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the IEC and the IECEE (the IEC System of Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components). GCC stands for Gulf Cooperation Council.

(from left to right)
Abdulsalam Al-Mutlaq, Chairman of Board Directors of Al-Fanar Co.
GSO General Secretariat, Anwar Al-Abdullah
Hasan Abdulla Fakhro, Minister of Industry & Commerce in Bahrain
Abdullah Al-Saif - Chief Executive officer of Motabaqah Co.

The event gathered key players from manufacturing, testing laboratories and government bodies from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Bahraini Minister of Industry and Commerce, His Excellency Hassan Abdulla Fakhro, opened the conference and was followed by several speakers from government and industry.

"The conference is the first of its kind in the Middle East," said the Minister, stressing the importance of the electrotechnical sector for national economies and customers.

About IECEE

The IECEE is a worldwide multilateral certification system that is based on International Standards prepared by the IEC.

The IECEE System includes certification for electrical and electronic (electrotechnical) products as well as an exclusive quality mark for photovoltaic products and systems, the PV GAP Mark.

The IECEE System was put in place to facilitate international trade in electrotechnical equipment and components for use in homes, offices, workshops, health-care facilities and similar locations.

The IECEE operates two schemes:

• CB Scheme for Mutual Recognition of Test Certificates for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components

The fundamental principle of the CB Scheme is that a manufacturer can obtain a CB Test Certificate for a defined product from a NCB (National Certification Body). To do so he submits samples of his product. The test results are registered.

The manufacturer can then present this certificate together with product samples to the NCBs in other Member countries whose certification marks he wants for his products. Tests may not be repeated but additional tests may be required for national differences.

• CB-FCS Scheme for Mutual Recognition of Conformity Assessment Certificates for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components

FCS stands for Full Certification Scheme. This is an extension of the IECEE CB Scheme in that it also includes factory audits and inspections. This scheme goes far beyond product testing. It includes a complete quality system and surveillance methods at the factory that produces a certified product. This can insure consistency of design and construction.

This scheme substantially reduces the number of steps required to obtain certification at the national level worldwide. It is particularly interesting for manufacturers who export fast-moving consumer goods to many global markets.

Exclusive to IECEE: the PV GAP Mark

PV GAP Mark, the global approval programme for the certification of photovoltaic products and systems, is exclusively provided by the IECEE through its NCBs.

The Mark is the worldwide reference for manufacturers and suppliers of photovoltaic components and equipment. It ensures that solar equipment and components are compliant with IEC International Standards in terms of safety and performance.

For more information on IECEE: www.iecee.org

About GSO

The GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) Standardization Organization is a financially and administratively independent entity that is concerned with standardization, conformity verification procedures, accreditation and measurements among the GCC Member States, which are:

• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates
• Bahrain
• Oman
• Qatar
• Kuwait.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain are Members of the IEC. Saudi Arabia is also a Member of the IECEE, and Bahrain has applied for IECEE membership. Other countries are expected to apply for IEC membership shortly.