Export-import standards to be enforced this year

Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA) will make it mandatory for exports and imports to meet national and GCC product specifications and standards this year, officials announced yesterday.

This is in line with maintaining high standards of products coming into the country as well as those going out and safeguarding public health and the environment, and it will also bolster the GCC customs union plans.

ESMA will shortly appoint an international company to undertake testing and certification of products in the country of origin as well as in the UAE.

"This initiative will support local industry and upgrade product quality standards through conformity certificates and specifications and will support GCC moves to create a customs union through the implementation of GCC specifications on national products thereby facilitating regional trade and entry procedures without the need for post-entry testing measures," said Walid Al Mansouri, ESMA director general.

"It will encourage the private sector to establish and operate specialised laboratories and contribute to product testing procedures.

Moreover, the application of conformity procedures, transparency and objectivity to globally accepted standards will significantly boost access to world markets for local produce," he added.

Thus all export products coming into the UAE must conform to the specifications. Also, local factories or industrial establishments here must register with ESMA and conform to the specifications.

The move is expected to clear out sub-standard and counterfeit products from the local market.

"For local consumers, they will help reduce the import and production of sub-standard products while for manufacturers, they will encourage them to improve the quality of their products," said Al Mansouri, adding that the move will boost consumer confidence in locally manufactured goods.