DOHA: State-run laboratories that test gold, toys, building materials and electrical appliances, among other things, for quality assurance will soon open their doors to the private sector.
The laboratories presently run quality checks on the above and other materials such as asphalt, soil and marble only for the government.
Their purpose is to make sure that all goods imported or produced locally meet Qatari standards and specifications.
The government has decided to make the services of these laboratories available to the private sector for a fee so that private companies can get any material tested for quality.
“We are presently busy fixing fee slabs for the various tests,” said Saleh Al Rumaihi, Director of Laboratory Affairs at the Ministry of Environment.
Qatar currently has eight laboratories, all under the Ministry of Environment, that specialise in testing various materials, including precious metals.
There are laboratories to check asphalt, building materials, soil and marble, electrical and household appliances, chemicals and children’s toys as well.
One laboratory is solely devoted to testing the ingredients of products. “Once we open our doors to the private sector, our services would prove to be of much help to them,” Al Rumaihi said.
Private companies are large importers and depend on quality certification for products issued in the countries of their origin.
Al Rumaihi said all the laboratories work in close coordination with the state consumer rights watchdog, the Consumer Protection Department (CPD) of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce.
“The CPD regularly sends us samples of various products collected by its inspectors from the local market and we run quality checks,” said the official.
Plans are afoot to set up three more laboratories — to test edible oil, textiles, and cosmetic products.
Al Rumaihi said as for setting up a laboratory for cosmetic products, plans were in the final stages. “The legal aspects have been taken care of. We are now looking into financial and technical aspects and the training of staff.”
These will be referral laboratories for Qatar and the other GCC states, according to the official.
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