The GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) will launch a new unified GCC metrology strategy, which will be finished within the next two months and is expected to be implemented during the next three years.
The strategy includes 14,000 unified GCC standard specifications aimed at reducing the practices of commercial fraud, in addition to convincing consumers to shift from purchasing inferior and counterfeit goods to high-quality commodities that comply with the standards and specifications.
“A survey will be conducted under this strategy in the Saudi and Gulf markets to ensure the conformity of products and goods with the GSO standard specifications so as to protect and provide better services to Gulf consumers,” GSO Secretary-General Nabeel Mulla said.
Therefore, every merchant’s liability will be identified through identification of his product by its barcode label.
Mulla pointed out that the implementation of the barcode labeling and product identification system would facilitate access to the seller in the event of non-conformity of the product to the specifications and standards, or if his product caused any harm to the consumer.
Furthermore, the GSO will carry out a training program for workers in market control to ensure the conformity of products with established standards.
Mulla continued: “The fight against commercial fraud will be much easier in the future than before in light of the quality specification mechanism as well as the identity of the product of the merchant who practices fraud, although this strategy will only work with the participation of everyone.”
He said the system had established strict penalties against merchants practicing fraud, which may reach to the imposition of heavy fines and prison sentences.
Mullah said he had noticed a decrease in the percentage of commercial fraud in the Saudi market during the last five years, which he attributed to the increasing keenness of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) through raising the number of its standardized specifications from 2,500 to 25,500 during the last seven years. In addition to that, SASO decided to adopt the implementation of the international standard specifications project in line with the global orientation in applying these specifications.
Mulla declared that the preparation of national and international standardized specifications required in the first place fighting commercial fraud, as well as finding a standard for every product to prevent merchants from trading in low-quality and counterfeit products that do not comply with the specified standards and specifications.
He said all relevant authorities should adhere to the shared responsibility to implement the metrology.