Standard Specifications Pillars of Consumer Safety -Minister of Commerce Says

Minister of Commerce, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi confirmed that the Kingdom has given great attention to strengthening national capabilities, in various elements and components of the quality infrastructure system, and the activities of developing standards as a basic pillar for enhancing consumer safety, and as one of the important enablers for economic growth and fair trade dealings.

This came during inauguration of the Fifth Standards Forum organized by SASO, in conjunction with the celebration of the World Standards Day for the Year 2021, under the motto: A common vision for a better world, with the participation of a large number of specialists inside and outside the Kingdom.

Al-Qasabi expressed pride in the results achieved by the Saudi specifications that enhance the Saudi presence, at the regional and international levels, as the number of Saudi specifications issued so far has exceeded 30,000 standard specifications, concerned with the quality and safety of thousands of products traded, in the markets, and the Saudi producer and supplier preserve their ability competitiveness, in international markets, as well as providing the consumer with safe limits that preserve the safety of products, according to the quality levels he aspires to.

He called on the private sector to participate more broadly in developing Saudi standards and technical regulations, to achieve visions and aspirations by improving the quality and safety of Saudi products and services, and achieving sustainable development goals.

For his part, the Governor of SASO Dr. Saad bin Othman Al-Qasabi confirmed that the Saudi specifications are continuing their efforts to develop the quality infrastructure and keep pace with the challenges, by adopting a set of innovative solutions, noting that it has issued more than 30 thousand standard specifications, to ensure the health and safety of the consumer and the environment, as well.

The Saudi Quality Mark has been awarded to more than 92 thousand products, in more than 24 countries around the world, while the Saber online platform has registered more than two million products.

The Governor of Saudi Standards added that the organization is keen to create a stimulating and supportive environment for manufacturers and suppliers, listen to challenges, ideas and suggestions, and work in an integrated manner to overcome obstacles and enable the business sector, in the Kingdom, to actively participate in achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

The work of the Fifth Standards Forum included a number of scientific papers.
The main session dealt with the role of standards in promoting sustainable development with the participation of experts from Korea and the United States of America.

It also included working papers on the role of standards in smart city applications and standards applications, in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, as well as its role in promoting innovation and sustainability.

The forum included two workshops on the role of standards to support small and medium enterprises and a review of the Indian experience in this aspect.
The forum also discussed the concept of circular economy from the perspective of standardization.