This Statute consisting of 16 articles aims at unifying the various standardization activities of the States of the GCC and following up their application and compliance; foster the Intra-GCC trade; protect the consumer, environment and the public health; and encourage the GCC industries and agricultural production. Main tasks of the GSO are: (i) drawing up comprehensive plans for its activities according to the needs and potentials of the Member States; (ii) following up application of Gulf technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures through the standardization bodies in the Member States; (iii) formulating, adopting, updating and publishing the technical regulations, the Gulf standards and Gulf Conformity Assessment Procedures for commodities and products, measuring and calibration devices, definitions, criteria for sampling, inspections; (iv) formulation and implementation of training plans to develop the know-how and skills of the standardization staff in the Member States; (v) creating the necessary awareness concerning standardization by dissemination through appropriate media; and (vi) coordinating the positions of the Member States with the Arab, Regional and International Standardization Organizations. The organizational structure of the GSO consists of Board of Directors, technical Council and General Secretariat. The Board of Directors is the highest authority for controlling, managing the affairs of the Organization and adopting its general policy. The GSO Board of Directors shall be composed of the competent Ministers responsible for standardization of each Member State. The Technical Council shall comprise of the presidents or officials of the standardization organizations of the Member States or their representatives. The Secretary-General of the Organization shall attend meetings of the Technical Council without having the right to vote.
2005-08-17