MUSCAT, JUNE 9
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion announced the inauguration of a branch of the Gulf Accreditation Centre in the Sultanate of Oman on Sunday, June 9, 2024. The launch coincided with celebrations marking World Accreditation Day.
According to the Ministry, the Centre will work alongside the Accreditation Office at the Directorate General of Standards and Metrology at the Ministry, to support the country’s national accreditation strategy.
This will include the training of accreditation employees, facilitating international accreditation procedures for Oman's conformity assessment bodies, and developing skilled evaluators.
Additionally, the centre will work towards facilitating international recognition by regional and international accreditation organisations.
The Gulf Council Cooperation Accreditation Centre (GAC) is a regulatory agency responsible for the accreditation of conformity assessment bodies (ABS) amongst GCC member states. The accreditation of conformity assessment bodies can be a key enabler in boosting trade.
In a previous Observer exclusive, the Director General of the Gulf Accreditation Centre, Moteb al Mezani, stressed the significance of accreditation of conformity assessment bodies both in terms of consumer safety and boosting trade.
Al Mezani explained that the presence of certifications from accredited assessment bodies is necessary to boost trade between member states and with the rest of the world, due to World Trade Organisation (WTO) mandates.
The Gulf Accreditation Centre will also assist in the establishment of the Oman Accreditation Centre, according to previous statements by the Director General of Standards and Metrology at MoCIIP, Imad Khamis al Shukaili.
The Centre, according to Al Shukaili, will be responsible for assessing conformity assessment bodies including calibration and testing laboratories, certification bodies, and inspection bodies.
According to data from the Ministry, there are currently 112 registered conformity assessment bodies in Oman as of May, 2024. These include 48 testing laboratories, 16 calibration laboratories, 32 inspection bodies, 10 management systems certification bodies and 6 product certification bodies.
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