Minister of Commerce: Saudi Accreditation Committee (SAC) is Working to Develop its Activities, to Include Inspections and Accreditation Bodies

تاريخ 22 Nov 2016
 
Minister of Commerce: Saudi Accreditation Committee (SAC) is Working to Develop its Activities, to Include Inspections and Accreditation Bodies
Molla: Enhancing the Competitiveness of Gulf Products and Helping them Enter Global Markets is One of the Most Important Challenges of GCC


 

   ​His Excellency, Minister of Commerce and Investment, Dr. Majid bin Abullah AlQasabi, said that SAC is currently working on the development and expansion of its services to include the accreditation of inspection activities and granting bodies. He noted that SAC follows a systematic integration with partners from national and international accreditation organizations and bodies, to enhance the reliability of results from testing, granting and inspecting institutions, and to improve the services provided to beneficiaries. 

   This was during a speech, delivered on his behalf, by Dr. Saad bin Othman Alqasabi, Governor of SASO, in the opening session of the 4th GCC Laboratory Proficiency Conference. The Conference was organized by SASO, in cooperation with GSO and SAC.

   ​His Excellency pointed out that the importance of this conference is presented in holding it a few days after launching the first meeting of the GCC's  Commission of  Economic and Development Affairs, which aimed at doubling the efficiency of the main infrastructure and current knowledge, updating the legislative framework in a way that prompts investment growth, and developing the economies of GCC states to cope with current challenges and developments. In turn, this helps speed up the pace towards achieving the visions and aspirations of GCC states' leaders, may Allah protect them, towards a comprehensive vision, which enhances the values of integration and union in the Gulf and meets the aspirations of Gulf's citizens and investors.

  He stressed that the laboratory sector is one of the main pillars of the national quality system. He added, private laboratories are one of the most important foundations for national reference laboratories, in order to form an effective system of inspection and testing services at the national and regional level. He also expressed his hope that this conference reaches solutions and creative development tools, capable of meeting the challenges facing this sector and enhancing its value and role in supporting the competitiveness of various industrial and commercial sectors.  

  For his part, Mr. Nabil bin Ameen Al-Molla, Secretary General of GSO, as confirmed by the final statement for the first  meeting of the GCC's  Commission of  Economic and Development Affairs (Riyadh, 11th Nov. 2016), chaired by HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Crown Prince, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, noted that the time has come to make a qualitative leap in the development journey of GCC states towards wider horizons, enhancing the effectiveness of the Gulf economy and its competitiveness. Furthermore, he pointed that one of the most important challenges the organization will be facing in the next stage is to work on strengthening the competitiveness of Gulf products and the quality infrastructure in Member States, in order to cope with international requirements and access global markets, in accordance with the latest international standards, and to meet the highest standards of conformity assessment on the international level.

   Moreover, he added the GSO strategic plan is based on developing the programs of increasing laboratory efficiency in Member states, supporting industrial sectors with the latest standards, and enhancing the application of conformity evaluation mechanisms, thus increasing the competitiveness of products on the international level. Through this initiative, 11 efficiency testing programs in various fields are organized. He resumed, "Efforts resulted in increasing the number of accredited laboratories, according to the requirements of the international standard ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 15189". In addition, there is an increase in the number of efficiency testing programs, which working laboratories have participated in, by organizing more than 12 efficiency testing programs, attended by over 170 laboratory. 
The events of the first day included a session entitled (Accreditation; a Global Tool to Support Public Polices), chaired by SASO Governor, Dr. Saad bin Othman Alkasabi. In this session, Mr. Peter Unger, Chairman of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC); Mr. Wang Wah Wong, Chairman of the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC); and Eng. Ayman Al-Makki, Consultant of the Governor of SASO for Accreditation, have participated. 

   ​On the other hand, the second session (Technical Legislation to Support Laboratory Proficiency) was chaired by Eng. Abdullah Al-Moe'ney, Director General of Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology (ESMA), in which four experts participated, including  Mr. Heribert Schorn, Managing Director of Institute for International Product Safety (GMBH); Mr. Anil Jauhri from the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies; Mr. Jonathan Murthy, Head of Marketing of United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS); and Mr, Saleh Al-Ameri, CEO of Gulf Laboratory Company. 
 
   

Last modified 29 Dec 2019
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