GCC Steps Up Standards Cooperation

Bahrain chaired the 63rd meeting of the Technical Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council Standardization Organization (GSO) in Riyadh, bringing together representatives and technical experts from GCC member states.

Sheikh Hamad bin Salman Al Khalifa, Assistant Undersecretary for Domestic and Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, led the meeting as Bahrain holds the presidency of the 46th session of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The council discussed efforts to further develop the Gulf standardization system, including harmonizing standards and technical regulations, product and service safety, consumer protection and facilitating intra-GCC trade.

Sheikh Hamad highlighted the importance of continued coordination among member states, saying stronger standardization would support trade, improve the competitiveness of Gulf industries and help regulatory authorities adopt international best practices.

The meeting reviewed the implementation of previous decisions and the work of GCC committees covering standards, metrology, laboratories, conformity assessment and designation.

Members also examined the results of a GCC-wide market survey on tyres and discussed the development of the Gulf conformity certification system.

The council further reviewed initiatives to strengthen technical and digital integration, including electronic links between GCC systems, technical information exchange and the GSO’s international cooperation.