Abu Dhabi-UAE: 23 January, 2018 -   Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC), the entity responsible for developing quality infrastructure in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, hosted a regular meeting of its Standing Technical Committee (STC) to examine the progress achieved by the Council’s Standardisation Services department in developing harmonised standards for various sectors related to quality infrastructure in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Engineer Ahmed Al Jabri, Deputy Chairman of STC and Director of Municipal Planning Department at Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities, chaired the meeting on behalf of Engineer Abdullah Hassan Al Muaini, STC Chairman and Executive Director of Conformity Scheme Services at QCC. STC members reviewed the decisions and recommendations made at the previous STC meeting on 3 October 2017. They also unanimously endorsed the three technical documents submitted by the relevant working groups including the Abu Dhabi professional standards for individuals working in pest control, Abu Dhabi technical standards for effluents discharged from land into the marine environment, as well as Abu Dhabi technical standards for inspecting lifting and handling equipment.

Sultan Al Mehairi, Director of Information Service and Engagement at QCC, said: 'The latest STC meeting is part of our ongoing endeavours to coordinate the efforts of various stakeholders towards standardising technical specifications and ensuring that they meet the current and future sustainable development needs of Abu Dhabi. In endorsing the technical documents submitted to the committee, we seek to plug any gaps that exist in the regulatory framework in affected areas. '

He added: “These technical documents pass through several stages of development before a final decision on endorsing them is made. The finalised consensus document is then ratified by all the parties represented in the technical committee. This living document is then continually edited and updated by QCC as and when necessary.”

Pointing out that Abu Dhabi has made significant progress in promoting unified technical standards, Al Mehairi added: “Till date, we have endorsed 132 such technical documents. The unprecedented development taking place in Abu Dhabi requires us to step up our efforts in this vital domain to improve the performance and competitiveness of various sectors to meet the challenges facing our organisations in consistently delivering best-in-class safety and quality.”

The Abu Dhabi professional standards for individuals working in pest control were developed following a detailed study to analyse and bridge the gaps in pesticide management in Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi Technical Report on Pesticide Management Development Plan was issued in 2016 and recommended the development of professional standards for individuals working in the hazardous field of pest control. The crucial report helped to regulate the profession and serve as a guideline in ensuring the appropriate use of pesticides – especially significant given their impact in protecting human health.

Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi technical standards for effluents discharged from land into the marine environment were developed by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) based on international best practices as well as the results of a monitoring programme undertaken by EAD since 2006. The technical document is routinely updated to ensure its relevance, and draws on the findings of periodical reports submitted by the entities authorised to discharge effluents to the marine environment.

The STC meeting also endorsed Abu Dhabi technical standards for inspecting lifting and handling equipment and reviewed the progress and milestones achieved by various working groups in projects that involved the harmonisation of standards, while also shedding light on their anticipated results.

The Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council was established in 2009 to raise the quality of the emirate’s exports and locally traded products while protecting the interests of consumers and supporting the UAE’s competitive economy. QCC empowers regulators to establish and implement product safety, legal metrology and conformity schemes. The Council also sets guidelines and benchmarks to verify that products manufactured and traded in Abu Dhabi conform to the highest quality standards.