Standards and conformity assessment key to boosting Omani exports

MUSCAT, APRIL 22

Standards and conformity assessment are indispensable to the goal of boosting Omani exports according to Imad Khamis al Shukaili, Director General of Standards and Metrology at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion.

Speaking to the Observer, the Director General explained that exports are not possible unless the products meet international and territorial standards. Hence, boosting the standards of local products in accordance with local and global standards, will automatically allow for their exports, he stressed, adding that the Ministry has recently taken various measures in support of this goal.

One such measures, he said, was the establishment of the Oman Accreditation Center this year, which will be responsible of assessing conformity assessment bodies including calibration and testing laboratories, certification bodies, and inspection bodies.

According to Ministry officials, the Ministry signed a contract with the Gulf Accreditation Center (GAC) — the regulatory body responsible for the accreditation of conformity assessment centres in the GCC — to assist with the establishment of the Oman Accreditation Center, and to “enhance the efficiency the accreditation system in Oman.”

Furthermore, the Ministry launched an online platform, Hazm, in 2023, that allows importers and manufacturers to obtain conformity certificates online, in addition to other certificates such as the energy efficiency labels for products, and certificates of origin.

According to Al Shukaili, the platform boasts over 37 services. It is also integrated with other systems including the customs declaration system, the Gulf Conformity Tracking Platform, Gulf Conformity Assessment Platform, Oman Business Platform, Conformity Assessment Bodies Appointment Platform.

Furthermore, the Ministry also revealed that it signed a framework cooperation agreement with the Gulf Accreditation Center (GAC) to establish a branch in Oman.

The department is currently in the process of signing a MoU with the the American Associations for Standards, he added.