The concept of a Single Entry Point is becoming used very widely in GCC member states. The concept is interrelated with the custom union and the single market of GCC member states.
The term of single entry point is simply mean that any product that is admitted to enter through any custom point in any member state of GCC is legible to be admitted from any other custom point within the GCC member states without further examination or inspection. Thus, the intermediate custom points will be eventually eliminated.
In order to establish the aforementioned concept it is rather necessary to harmonize the customs procedures at all points especially the technical barriers.
The current decree is to apply the principle of First Entry Point as from 1-1-2008.
The committee of Customs union affiliated to the Secretariat General of GCC will handle the non-technical customs barriers.
Meanwhile, the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) still handle the technical barriers issue that is based on harmonization of the technical standards as well as the conformity assessments activities within the Member States.
The general committee for standards and the subcommittees handle the process harmonizing standards within the Member States through formulating unified Gulf standards. Meanwhile, the GCC Committee for Conformity Assessment unifies the conformity assessment activities in accordance with the following:
1) Formulating GCC Conformity assessment regulations (Technical Regulations)
2) Formulating the regulations of the GCC Conformity Mark
3) Compiling the guide of Gulf Conformity Models.
4) Compiling the guide of accrediting and registering the notified bodies
5) Compiling a unified guide of market surveillance.
6) Launching the products liability code
7) Compiling the guide of GCC Customs.