Standardization Activities in the GCC

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Standardization Activities in the GCC
International Standards Workshop For Global Oil
and Gas Industry Doha 3rd. 4th of April 2006
Standardization Organization For the GCC (GSO)
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Standardization Organization for the GCC (GSO)

• Regional standardization organization established
  under the umbrella of the Cooperation Council for
  the GCC.
• Succeeding GSMO (Est. 1984).
• Assumed operation May 2004.
• Headquarter Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Members United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of
  Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of
  Oman, State of Qatar and the State of Kuwait.
• GSO Members are member bodies of AIDMO,ISOetc.
  (IEC, OIML,,,). All are signatory to Annex III of
  TBT Agreement.

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GSO Main Functions

• Formulation, preparation and publication of GCC
  Standards Technical Regulations.
• Formulation of GCC Conformity Assessment
  Procedures, legal and industrial Metrology,
  Quality and other related standardization
  activities on the GCC level.
• Awareness, Capacity Building,,,,,,,
• Protection of the consumer, public health and
  environment.
• Facilitation of the intra GCC trade as well as
  international trade and elimination of technical
  barriers to trade GCC Customs Union.
• Harmonization of GCC Standards/Tech. Reg. and
  conformity assessment procedures.etc. with
  international accepted standards and practices.
• Support the GCC Industry and Services..

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GSO Structure

• GSO is managed and administered by the following
  bodies
• Board of Directors (Council) GCC Ministers of
  Trade Industry
• Technical Council Heads of GCC Natl Std. Bodies
• General Secretariat.

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GCC Standards

• Total number of GCC Standards is 1770.
• 35 technical regulations (mandatory standards)
• and 65 voluntary standards.
• Degree of relevance 40 (ISO), 80 (IEC).
• covering major economic sectors.
• Prepared by Technical Committees through
  consensus of all stakeholders.
• Approved by GSO Board of Directors on
  recommendations by GSO Technical Council.
• 115 Gulf Standards in the oil and gas sector
  represent 7 of the total number of published
  Gulf Standards.

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Standards Formulation

• Based on the requirements of health, safety,
  performance, environment and consumer protection.
• Meeting the requirements of industry, import,
  export, public procurement and international
  trade.
• Meeting the requirements of TBT Agreement and its
  Annex III.
• Adoption of International Standards in their
  original language
• ( Fast track measures direct adoption of Intl
  standards to develop and increase the total
  number of GCC standards).
• Standards are developed by GCC Standards
  Technical Committees.
• (Currently there are six Technical Committees
  food and agriculture, electrical, mechanical,
  chemical and textile products, and metrology)

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Benefits of Standardization

• Cost effectiveness.
• Boost Quality Process, Products ,,etc.
• Metrology and calibration services.
• Quality Management systems QMS (ISO 9001), EMS
  (ISO 14001) and OHSAS (ISO 18001).
• Safety.
• Readiness to meet government legislation.

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GSO Perspectives for the GCC Oil Gas
Standardization

• GCC Standard Specifications should continue to
  meet the requirements of the following
  stakeholders
• Oil and Gas Industries (Products)
• Refineries (clean fuels)
• Laboratories (Test methods, Proficiency testing,
  Accreditation ,,,etc.)
• Environmental Regulatory Bodies (setting of
  emission limits)
• Consumers (expectations for quality, performance
  and maintenance products).

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Challenges

• Standardization Awareness.
• Building and implementation of sound/recognized
  standardization (Quality) infrastructure
  practices.
• Meeting the GCC economic development needs, i.e.
  GCC Custom Union Common market regional
  approach (conformity assessment, metrology and
  accreditation).
• Participation of all stakeholders.
• Capacity Building.
• Positive participation in the international fora
  activities (i.e. ISOs TC)

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GSO Things to be done

• Development of a Regional Conformity Assessment
  Scheme. (under process).
• Development of a Regional Standardization
  Strategy.
• Development of a Regional Metrology Cooperation.
• Development of a Regional Accreditation System.
• IT e-services

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Looking Forward

• Support Cooperation of International
  Standardization Organizations and Internationally
  recognized Standardizing Bodies (MOUs for
  capacity building)
• Support of the GCC Oil and Gas Industry.
• Participation and Involvement of all
  stakeholders.
• Participation at the International arena ISO
  mirror committees, TCs.

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• Thank You
• www.gso.org.sa
• binfahad_at_gcc-sg.org