Since July 1 2016, the technical regulations for low-voltage electrical equipment and supplies in the Gulf countries have come into effect and mandatory GCC certification requirements for some products began to carry out. After the implementation of this regulation, low-voltage electrical equipment must meet the safety and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements of this technical regulation and affix the GC mark before selling in the member states of the Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO). The GC mark of some regulated products can be affixed only after accredited by third-party authorized by GSO and completing the registration in GSO.
GCC is the Gulf Cooperation Council for Arab States,short as GCC. Founded in May 1981,GCC is the most important political and economic organization in the Gulf region. Headquartered in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia,its current member include United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Since its establishment, the member states of the GCC have fully taken their advantages of language,religion and similar economic structures to promote the process of economic integration actively.
GSO is the Gulf Standardization Organization. Its establishment aim to ensure the safety and quality of commodities entering the Gulf market, and to participate in the development of production and service areas through various standard activities. The current member of GSO include: the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Yemen. In the field of standardization and conformity assessment, any products that have obtained the GC mark certification are able to enter the markets of the above countries. At present, GSO is actively unifying the standards and certification procedures of above countries, and has issued unified technical regulations for toys and low-voltage electrical equipment.
GCC: Gulf Cooperation Council
GSO: GCC Standardization Organization
GCC member countries: Bahrain; Kuwait; Oman; Qatar;Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; Yemen.
G-mark mandatory products: auto parts, toys, low-voltage electrical equipment and appliances-LVD