Accreditation - Trust, Efficiency, and Quality

Accreditation is considered a key pillar of the quality infrastructure in countries around the world. It directly reflects on the health and safety of citizens and residents in terms of the safety and quality of products and services available in the local market in the Sultanate of Oman. It also enhances their efficiency and competitiveness in global markets.?

Accreditation

It is defined as an independent evaluation by a neutral body (center/accreditation entity) of conformity assessment bodies based on internationally recognized standards. The aim is to provide specific activities that ensure the neutrality and credibility of these bodies and their competence. The body applies both local and international standards, making it easier for governments and stakeholders to trust its outputs, such as inspection reports, calibration or inspection certificates, management system certificates, product or halal certifications.

The role of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion in accreditation.

The Ministry, represented by the Accreditation Office at the Directorate General of Standards and Metrology, urges and monitors conformity assessment bodies (such as testing and calibration laboratories, inspection bodies according to the international standard ISO/IEC 17020, and certification bodies) to obtain international accreditation. Private laboratories in the Sultanate of Oman play a crucial and primary role in ensuring that products in the market conform to specifications and standards.

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The areas of testing within laboratories include:

• Physical, chemical, and microbiological testing of products such as cosmetics, food products, water, construction materials, petroleum derivatives, gas, and others.
• Calibration areas: Calibration of measuring instruments and devices in mass, pressure, temperature, torque, force, electricity, and others.

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The directorate continuously works on:

• Urging laboratories to obtain international accreditation according to the international standard ISO/IEC 17025 by coordinating with regional and international organizations to provide proficiency tests that ensure the accuracy of the results issued by these laboratories.
• Simplifying procedures for investors in the field of conformity assessment regarding the licensing of related activities.
• Continuous follow-up, receiving feedback and suggestions, working on continuous development policies, and studying the challenges they face.
• ?Establishing a National Accreditation Center, which, after obtaining international recognition from relevant regional and international accreditation bodies and organizations, will provide internationally recognized accreditation services to ensure the availability of safe and reliable products and services for citizens and residents.

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The Gulf Accreditation Center in the Sultanate of Oman.

Within the framework of the collaboration between the Ministry and the Gulf Accreditation Center, both parties signed a cooperation agreement to establish a branch of the Gulf Accreditation Center in the Sultanate of Oman. A branch of the center was inaugurated at the headquarters of the Directorate General of Standards and Metrology to integrate with the Accreditation Office and facilitate the accreditation process for both governmental and private conformity assessment bodies in the country.

The primary focus on accreditation and the conformity of products with international specifications and standards ensures safe products and smooth trade. It works to raise the quality of imported products in the markets of the Sultanate of Oman, as well as improve the efficiency of local products and their competitiveness in global markets.

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