Describes the country's standards landscape, identifies the national standards and accreditation bodies, and lists the main national testing organization(s) and conformity assessment bodies.
Last Published: 8/15/2019

Overview
The Government of Qatar continues to develop its standards regime to meet internationally and regionally-recognized norms and practices, such as the International Standardization Systems Organization (ISSO).  The Qatar Laboratories and Standardization Affairs is in charge of developing and conformity assessment body for Qatar.  However, Qatari government ministries such as the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Ministry of Municipality and Environment provide recommendations for standards.  The Qatar Laboratories and Standardization Affairs continually develop new standards and criteria for various items and merchandize.

Standards
The only standards organization in Qatar is the Qatar Laboratories and Standardization Affairs.

NIST Notify U.S. Service
Member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are required under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade to report to the WTO all proposed technical regulations that could affect trade with other member countries.

Notify U.S. is a free, web-based e-mail subscription service that offers an opportunity to review and comment on proposed foreign technical regulations that can affect your access to international markets.

Conformity Assessment
Qatar has laboratories to test construction materials, food and calibration scales.  The Qatar Laboratories and Standardization Affairs is charged with the task of developing laboratories and facilities to test electrical equipment and supplies, toys and oil fabrication equipment as well as other items and merchandize.  The Departments of Central Laboratories, and Quality and Standards, which are under the supervision of the Qatar Laboratories and Standardization Affairs, are the primary testing facilities for Qatar.  There are no conformity assessment bodies in Qatar.

Product Certification
Qatar applies product certification according to ISSO standards 22 and 28.  Product certification takes place by way of a conformity certificate from the manufacturer, self-declaration or tests reported by accredited laboratories from the exporting country.

Accreditation
There are no accreditation organizations in Qatar.

Publication of technical regulations
The name of the national gazette is the Government Official Gazette.  Proposed regulations are currently not published but final regulations are published and are considered law once listed in the Official Gazette.  The General Organization for Standards and Metrology has developed a website that lists all Qatari standards and allows for governments and the private sector to make comments on draft legislation for 60 days.  More information can be found at: Qatar Foundation.
 

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