In what is being considered a significant development, Saudi Arabian Standards Organisation (SASO) has designated Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) as the sole Pakistani certification body authorised to issue Certificates of Conformity (COC) for Saudi Arabia.
According to information available here on Thursday this Mutual Recognition Program (MRP) in the field of standardisation activities, especially conformity assessment procedures would go a long way to facilitate, increase and enhance trade between the two countries in compliance with World Trade Organisation-Technical Barriers to Trade (WTO-TBT) agreement.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed in Dubai last month during General Assembly meeting of International Standards Organisation (ISO). Dr Shahzad Afzal, Director, PSQCA and Dr Nabil Ameen Mollar, Director General, SASO signed the MOU on behalf of their organisations. Needless to mention that the MRP had been possible due to the untiring efforts of Abdul Ghaffar Soomro, Director General PSQCA.
The Authority is now being recognised in several countries of the world as the only body whose certification could be relied upon. This has helped the country earn a good name and enhance its exports. A large number of consumer goods exported from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia require a COC as proof of conformity with Saudi Arabian specifications.
These certificates are to be presented to the Saudi customs authorities upon import. Until recently numerous certification bodies world-wide were authorised to issue certificates. SASO has now decided to grant this authority to only one certification body per country - for Pakistan, this body is PSQCA. SASO being the sole standardisation body in the Kingdom, is entrusted with all activities relating to standards and measurements which include:
-- Formulation and approval of national standards for all commodities and products as well as standards concerned with metrology, calibration, marking and identification of commodities and products, methods of sampling, inspection and testing, in addition to other assignments resolved by SASO Board of Directors.
-- Publishing Saudi standards by the most proper means.
-- Promoting standardisation awareness by publicity and other means and co-ordinating all activities relating to standards and measurements in the Kingdom.
-- Setting the rules for granting certificates of conformity and quality mark and regulating their issuance and use, and
-- Participating in the Arab, Regional and International Organisations.
-- Under the PSQCA-SASO agreement, each party shall provide the other with all its national standards and technical regulations in English language as reference.
Both shall notify all entities responsible for export and import activities in both countries (government or private sector). To inform the exporters of this program to be taken in consideration in order to establish a fluent trade without any technical barriers at the borders entries.
Pakistani products bearing the PSQCA quality mark in accordance with Saudi standards or international standards if Saudi standards for that product are not existing or any other standards SASO will determine shall be allowed to enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia without any technical barriers.
Saudi products bearing the SASO quality mark in accordance with Pakistan standards or international standards if Pakistan standards for that product are not existing or any other standards upon the recommendation from PSQCA shall be allowed to enter Pakistan without any technical barriers.
Each organisation shall provide the other with a list of firms authorised to use the quality mark and their products, providing valid certificates as an authentication while the other party shall authenticate the certificate and provide the authorised entities with a copy of this certificate to be taken into consideration and allow entry without any technical barriers. The exporter can be provided with a certificate of conformity upon his request, for any consignment.
The exporter shall apply to SASO or PSQCA for a COC for the commodities he intends to export to Saudi Arabia or Pakistan. Both the signatories shall follow proper procedures to ensure the conformity of the commodities to standards and technical regulations required by the importing party by means of testing in accordance with standards and technical regulations specified by the importing party.
This procedure may include studying the application and opening a file for the exporting firm and sampling. Ensuring the capability to carry out necessary tests, accredited laboratories could be used if necessary. Carrying out tests that ensure adherence to standards specified by importing country or international standards determined by the importing country. Procurement of necessary costs for testing to the benefit of the testing entity.
Each organisation shall issue the required certificate of conformity if clause (2) of (fourth) are fulfilled and notify the other party by facsimile or e-mail or any other electronic program as soon as the certificate issuing procedure is complete and provide a copy of that certificate.
The certificate issuing entity shall deliver the certificate to the exporter to attach it with the exported consignment. Each importing party shall notify authorities responsible, in their country, of the issuance of the certificate after authentication to be taken into consideration to allow entry.
Each party shall notify the other of its authorised certificate issuing entities within the country to authenticate or take into consideration, if needed. PSQCA shall not issue Certificate of Conformity or Quality Mark for any products exporting to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia containing pork or pork products or alcohol.
Both parties shall establish a software program for that purpose containing all necessary information about the Certificate of Conformity issued by each party allowing personnel representing the surveillance authorities responsible for entry in both countries, limited access to this software for conformation purposes for certificates uploaded by SASO or PSQCA.
Both parties shall develop awareness programs co-ordinating with the authorities responsible for entry in both countries, ie, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Finance (Customs) etc, Saudi products and Pakistani products under this mutual recognition shall be subjected to the prevailing laws and regulations of both countries.
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