Qatar is keen to expedite the import of compliant products which are not harmful for consumers, the country and its environment, a senior official told a meeting yesterday.
The Department of Laboratories and Standardisation at the Ministry of Environment (MoE) hosted the first consultative meeting with traders and suppliers in the presence of HE the Minister of Environment Ahmed Amer Mohamed al-Humaidi.
Speaking on the occasion, Laboratories and Standardisation Affairs assistant undersecretary Dr Mohamed bin Saif al-Kuwari explained that it was aimed at maintaining an open discussion among the parties concerned on the department’s procedures to ease the customs clearance of important goods while ensuring their safety for consumers and the country’s environment.
During the meeting,  the minister answered questions of participating businessmen regarding the role of the MoE in easing the entry of imported products into the country, according to the applicable Qatari and GCC standards.
“The Standardisation Department is working to maintain sustainable development through the protection of the health and safety of the residents of Qatar against diseases, epidemics, disasters and fires that may be caused by defective and non-compliant products and apparatuses, especially the counterfeit items,” Dr al-Kuwari pointed
out.
“We also work to protect the well-being of the society against risky products which may include harmful chemicals or radioactive materials, banned internationally. We want to safeguard the country from becoming a destination for dumping risky industrial waste,” he stressed.
Dr al-Kuwari observed that the quality and compliance regulations included a number of procedures and certificates that should accompany the products before being imported into the country. He  gave the technical details of such requirements.
“Samples of the product will be tested accordingly to make sure that the product is safe. But, if it turns out that the product entails any risks, it will not be released,” he asserted.
Regarding the products that are subjected to such tests before released, he said that these included all types of toys, vehicles, and tyres, cosmetics that contained keratin, table plates, cans, plastic containers, foam and paper
plates and cups and related things.
Other products include auto spare parts, in particular brake pads, seat belts and tyre rims, building materials and electrical appliances. He said  the regulations for low-voltage electric appliances, which have been experimentally applied since July last year, would be enforced from June 1 this year.
Dr al-Kuwari briefed participants on the necessary documents for customs clearance of the products and the conditions for a temporary clearance.
The meeting was  attended by Qatar Chamber vice chairman Mohamed Ahmed bin Tuwar and members Mohamed Jawhar, Adel Abdulrahman al-Mannai, and Mohamed Ahmed