Gulf Conformity Marking, or ‘G Marking’ helps ensure product quality and safety including EMC testing for certain low voltage electrical equipment and appliances being sold in the gulf region.
The organizations and cooperation behind the G-Marking requirement
The Gulf Standards Organization (GSO) responsible for this requirement is a government level body, within which is a membership called the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Seven member countries make up the GSO GCC:
- State of Kuwait
- Kingdom of Bahrain
- Sultanate of Oman
- State of Qatar
- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- State of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Republic of Yemen
Access to these seven markets for products covered by the technical regulations now requires this mandatory G-Marking by law. Gulf Conformity Marking is intended to replace all current national compliance systems in order to reduce technical barriers, facilitate and encourage free movement of goods within those countries and strengthen regional economic strategy policies.
Individual member states have not yet finalized how G Marking will be implemented, so UL recommends referring to the current certification scheme in each target market in addition to adding G-Marking. A UL representative can talk you through this process.
When the new legislation came in to force and what it means
Enforcement of the new scheme began on July 1, 2016, making it mandatory for all low-voltage electrical products sold in these countries to carry the certification and G Marking.
How G-Marking helps you test for product safety and how UL can help:
As set down by the Gulf Standards Organization, the G-Marking process and program requires a higher degree of third-party intervention from Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) and Notified Bodies (NBs).
UL is a notified body for the low voltage directive recognized by the Gulf Standards Organization (GSO) and Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC). This means UL can evaluate products for the Gulf Marking (G Marking) scheme and issue the Gulf Type Examination Certificate.
This enables us to work with our customers globally seeking market access into the Gulf region.
What Products are covered?
Products include but are not limited to the following:
|
PRODUCT TYPE |
HS CODES |
|
Domestic Electrical Fans |
84 14 51 00 |
|
Refrigerators, freezers and other refrigerating or freezing equipment |
84 18 10 00 |
|
Centrifugal clothes dryers and Clothes washing machines, including machines which both wash and dry |
84 21 12 00 |
|
Food grinders and mixers, fruit or vegetable juice extractors |
85 09 40 00 |
|
Toasters |
85 16 72 00 |
|
Electro-thermic hair-dressing apparatus and hand dryers |
85 16 31 00 |
|
Microwave ovens |
85 16 50 00 |
|
Other ovens; cookers, cooking plates, boiling rings, grillers and roasters |
85 16 60 00 |
|
Electric instantaneous or storage water heaters and immersion heaters |
85 16 10 00 |
|
Electric smoothing irons |
85 16 40 00 |
|
Plugs, Socket outlets, Adaptors, Cord Extension, Sets and chargers |
85 44 42 20 |
|
Air conditioners |
84 15 10 00 |
A mark is added by a third party, whereas a ‘Marking’ is a self-declared marking added to a product. Using a third party to help you affix this marking brings you all the expertise of a testing and certification organization.
