Electrical appliances are on the list of items that are to be brought within the purview of the unified regional quality benchmarks by early next year.
Substandard imported appliances are cited by experts as the cause of most fires that take place in homes and offices here. As for air-conditioners, their regional standards and specifications are being framed.
An instant outcome of the move to implement the regional quality norms has been a big hue and cry in the local trade and industry.
Particularly affected are those dealing in tyres and auto spare parts. Unconfirmed reports suggest a black market has been thriving in the banned balloon tyres.
They are being brought into the country allegedly by some transporters who are able to hoodwink the customs authorities at the check posts.
Trading circles claim an estimated 1,500 retailers across Doha have shut shop as they are unable to import and sell tyres that are in popular demand since the standards and specifications agency has banned their entry.
Automobile spare part dealers, also an estimated 2,000 across Greater Doha, are said to be suffering losses to the tune of millions of riyals as their businesses remain affected due to a ban on low-quality accessories that used to be brought unrestricted into the country in large quantities.
The food industry is also adversely impacted but, seemingly not as much, because of the tougher quality norms.
The concern in the industry is over undue delays in getting approvals from the standards agency.
Food importers complain that as a result of delays they have been paying huge fines for containers stuck at the Doha Port.
Market operators claim that Qatar is implementing the unified GCC standards and specifications “very strictly”, whereas, other signatory neighbouring states are “flexible” in their approach.
At least one affected businessman, in remarks to a popular call-in programme of Qatar Radio last week, suggested that some neighbouring states were even offering small Qatari businesses — suffering due to the implementation of stricter regional quality benchmarks — incentives to set up shop in free trade zones in their territories.
Qatar’s Standards and Specifications Authority affiliated with the Ministry of Environment, has put its foot down and says it will enforce the regional norms come what may since the quality of goods cannot be compromised and people’s lives cannot be endangered just to help businesses make profit.
