Conformity Assessment Scheme

GSO aims at helping the GCC achieve the objectives set forth in its charter and in the GCC Economic Agreement by unifying the various standardization activities and following up application and compliance of the same in cooperation and coordination with the standardization bodies in the Member States in an endeavor to develop the production and service sectors, foster the Intra-GCC trade, protect the consumer, environment and the public health, and encourage the GCC industries and agricultural production that would enhance the GCC economy , maintain the achievements of the Member States and minimize the technical trade barriers as envisaged by the objectives of the Customs Union.

Procedures of Issuing GSO Technical Regulations:

GSO Technical Regulations are developed for high priority product categories for Member States. The Gulf Technical Regulations are issued in accordance with the Guidance document on issuing Technical Regulations for Product Categories approved by the Board of Directors at its Twenty-Second Meeting (Riyadh, 05 November 2015).

Technical Regulations & Guides

Within the framework of building the Gulf System for Safety Monitoring of Products within Member States Market, GSO has issued horizontal Technical Regulations, vertical Technical Regulations, as well as other guides:

Horizontal Technical Regulations apply to all types of products, while vertical Technical Regulations apply to a given category of products. Guides may be either horizontal or vertical.

GSO Approved Technical Regulations

Within the framework of building the Gulf System for Safety Monitoring of Products within Member States Market, GSO has issued horizontal Technical Regulations, which are a set of Technical Regulations that are applied to all types of products and dealing with the following topics. Product Safety: Product safety: This regulation applies to all products intended for consumers consumption or use, even in the context of providing a service, or which is likely to be used by consumers under reasonably foreseeable conditions, even if not intended for them, and is supplied whether for consideration or not, in the course of a commercial activity.

All the requirements of this Regulation shall apply to all products unless there are special requirements in the laws and legislation of the Member States regulating the safety of certain products and performing the same purpose. Where product safety requirements are specified in the national legislation of Member States, they exceed the requirements of this regulation in the aspects and risk categories covered by such legislation; therefore, these regulations apply only to the aspects, hazards or class of hazards not included in such regulations.

General Product Safety Regulation – BD09100504

The purpose of this Regulation is ensuring a high level of protection of the health and safety of consumers and to establish a legislative framework for any product placed on the market, or supplied or made available or intended for consumers, or likely to be used by consumers under reasonably foreseeable conditions even if not intended for them, and also to ensure the safety of local or imported products placed on internal markets of the Member States. View Document

Gulf Regulation on G-Marking – BD09100501

Is a specific marking of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf which is stuck on the product or/and the Declaration of Conformity to indicate that the product is in conformity with the requirements set out in the applicable Gulf Technical Regulations. Conformity Assessment Modules: A set of conformity assessment procedures typically selected according to the degree of risk and risk analysis, to be used to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the Gulf Technical Regulations for Products. Notified Conformity Assessment Bodies: A Conformity Assessment Body notified by GSO as a notified Conformity Assessment Body in a specific field according to the applicable Gulf Technical Regulations. In addition, GSO has issued sectoral Technical Regulations, which are a set of mandatory Technical Regulations specific to a product or product category, containing its essential requirements, and specifying its conformity assessment procedures to enable the product or the product category to bear the Gulf-Mark, and it includes the Standards reference necessary for fulfilling the essential requirements. Click the link to download the approved GSO Technical Regulations. View Document

GSO Technical Regulation On Toys: Second Edition – BD-131704-01

This technical regulation is the second edition of the Conformity Assessment Regulation related to children toys, which includes an amendment and an update of the first edition number (BD07070502), dated on 27/11/2007. This technical regulation has been adopted by GSO Board of Directors in its 17th meeting (Riyadh, 31st of May 2013) and shall enter into force on the 01/01/2014 The most important amendments and updates are:

(a) The progress of technology and knowledge in the field of manufacturing and marketing of children toys, has raised new issues for the safety of those toys and has required the amendment of the essential requirements, especially with regard to the prohibition of the use of certain chemicals that cause cancer or genetic defect or allergies or concerning the use of fragrances, as well as the maximum limits permitted for certain substances especially in toys intended for use by children under thirty-six months or toys that children can put in their mouths.

(b) Establishing special requirements for children toys which come into contact with food.

(d) Requiring manufacturers analyze all the risks that can be caused by children toys and evaluate the possibility of exposure to them.

(e) Updating the obligations of the “Economic Operators”, the “Conformity Assessment models” and the requirements and the obligations of the “Notified Conformity Assessment Bodies”. View Document

Gulf Technical Regulation for Low Voltage Electrical Equipment and Appliances – BD-142004-01

This document is the second edition of the GSO Technical Regulation on Low Voltage Electrical Equipment and Appliances, which includes an amendment and an update of the first edition, number (BD07070503) dated on 27/11/2007. The most important amendments and updates are: a) Clear definition and determining obligations of “economic operators”, “Conformity Assessment Procedures” and obligations of “the Notified Bodies”. b) Oblige the Manufacturers to carry out a risk analysis of all hazards that the electrical equipment may present, as well as an assessment of the potential exposure to such hazards. c) Add requirements related to electromagnetic compatibility of low-voltage electrical equipment. Another important aspect is the presumption of conformity given to the IECEE-CB Scheme as per the technical aspects. This Document has been approved by the GSO Board of Directors in its 20th meeting (Riyadh, 5th November 2014). The enforcement will be in the 1st of June 2015 in an experimental way, while the full enforcement will be in the 1st of July 2016. – Notice that this Technical Regulation deals with safety essential requirements and EMC; non covered aspects (such us Energy Efficiency) may be subject to particular National Technical Regulations for some products. View Document

In addition to the resolution of GSO Technical Council in its 53rd Session (09-10 October 2022) approving the table of electrical voltage and frequency, as well as the type and shape of the plugs and socket outlets used in each Member state (Doc. Ref. TC-225310-01) as an Amendment replacing the table in Annex(1) of clause (2) Paragraph (e) from the Gulf Technical Regulation for Low Voltage Electrical Equipment and Appliances (Doc. Ref. BD-142004-01).

List No. (2) TC143307-01 Electrical equipment and appliances subjected to CAP in Annex (4) of LV TR

List No. (2) determines the Electrical equipment and appliances subjected to the Conformity Assessment Procedure set out in Annex (4) of GSO Technical Regulation for Low Voltage Electrical Equipment and Appliances. – As per the LV TR BD-142004-01 and decision by the Technical Council, the Presumption of Conformity is granted to GSO Standards, thus to the latest publication of the IEC Standards. View Document

GSO Technical Regulation for Water consumption conservation Products

This GSO Technical Regulation (TR) shall apply to Water consumption conservation Products as defined in Article (2) thereof. This TR aims to rationalize water consumption through products covered (listed in Annex 1). The rationalization will be in accordance with specified rates of consumption (Annex 2), to achieve efficient and effective water use for optimum social and economic benefits of member states. This TR was approved by the GSO Ministerial Committee 5th Meeting (Muscat, 11 May 2023) and will start implementation by the beginning of 2024. View Document

Time Plan for issuing GSO Technical Regulations

Within the framework of the strategic plan of GSO for the period (2016-2020), a time plan for the issuance of the GSO Technical Regulations for product categories has been developed taking into account the priorities of the Member States, as follows:

Industrial Products Safety
Cosmetics
Energy Consumption Efficiency
Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment
Electromagnetic Compatibility
Machinery
Lifts
Construction Products
Medical Devices
Equipment for Explosive Atmospheres
Simple Pressure Vessels
Personal Protective Equipment
Gas Appliances
Playgrounds
Plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs
Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments
Measuring Instruments
Halal Products

GSO Guide On Notified Bodies – BD09100502

The purpose of this Guide is to specify criteria to be used in the assessment and appointment of Conformity Assessment Bodies to undertake duties and functions as set out in the Gulf Technical Regulations. This Guide also aims to provide explanation and clarification to Conformity Assessment Bodies wishing to act as notified bodies for Member States, subject to the GSO Technical Regulations in force in the Member States. Meeting the criteria of this Guide will serve as basis to any recommendations made about the appointment of any conformity verification body wishing to carry out the functions of a notified body. This guide should be seen as complementary to legal texts, legislations and technical regulations issued by the Organization to that effect. View Document

GSO Guide On Modules of Conformity Assessment – BD09100503

This guide aims to present typical types for procedures of conformity assessment adopted by the Member States to ensure that products comply with the main requirements provided in the GSO technical regulation. View Document

Guide on Product Safety and Market Surveillance (only Arabic version is available)

This guide describes the legal framework governing the products safety in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) member states and Yemen. The framework specifies the general product safety requirements, Gulf technical regulations, obligations of economic operators, notified bodies, product liability, market surveillance, administrative provisions, infringement procedures, and sanctions. View Document

Technical Regulations Projects under final approval

GSO Technical Regulations Project for Machinery, Safety Components and Lifting Equipment_CDT-180027

This GSO Technical Regulation (TR) shall apply to Machinery, Safety Components and Lifting Equipment as defined in Article (2) thereof. This TR aims at laying down the mandatory requirements for the safety and electromagnetic compatibility of Machinery, Safety Components and Lifting Equipment with which all Machinery, Safety Components and Lifting Equipment included in the scope of this TR must comply before it is placed on the market and allowed to move freely within the GSO Member States markets. This TR was notified to WTO on 12th March 2018 for comments. The project is under approval and it is available in Arabic only. View Document

GSO Technical Regulation Project on Electromagnetic Compatibility CDT-180025

This GSO Technical Regulation shall apply to equipment as determined in Article (2) of the Regulation. This Technical Regulation sets out the essential requirements on the electromagnetic compatibility with a view to requiring equipment to comply with an adequate level of electromagnetic compatibility. These requirements shall be respected by the equipment included in the scope of this GSO Technical Regulation before they are put or made available in the GSO market. This TR was notified to WTO on 27th March 2018 for comments. The project is under approval and it is available in Arabic only. View Document

GSO Technical Regulation Project on the Restriction of the use of Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment CDT-180024

This GSO Technical Regulation shall apply to electrical and electronic equipment as defined in Article (2) of this Regulation. This Technical Regulation sets out the essential requirements on the restriction of the use of Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment with a view to contributing to the protection of human health and the environment, including the environmentally sound recovery and disposal of waste. These requirements shall be respected by the electrical and electronic equipment included in the scope of this GSO Technical Regulation before they are put or made available in the GSO market. This TR was notified to WTO on 28th March 2018 for comments. The project is under approval and it is available in Arabic only. View Document