WATCH: Abu Dhabi brings all consumer and business benchmarks to Quality and Compliance Committee

The rules set by the Abu Dhabi Quality and Compliance Committee will also cover people and systems.

“Previously, it was a mess. Each entity had its own set of rules and regulations,” said Dr. Mazen Ali Naji, Director of Conformance Programs and Research. “Right now, we want to be the hub.”

“Most importantly, (the mission) is to attract investors by having a safe, trustworthy marketplace that sets the outlook for global operations.”

Once the specification is rolled out, the regulator will conduct an assessment and issue an ‘Abu Dhabi Trust Mark’ certificate to eligible parties.

The Personnel Qualification Scheme enables individuals and companies providing a variety of services to be certified to technical standards set by Abu Dhabi regulators and industry experts.

To register, individuals must visit the ADQCC website or assessment center to obtain and complete an application. After this, the applicant will be examined according to the specified technical requirements. After submitting test results and photo identification, applicants will receive a Personnel Competency Certificate.

Thereafter, he/she will undergo regular assessments.

For the Personnel Qualification Program, ADQCC has issued more than 43,000 certificates in 20 different occupations. “Lifeguards, school bus drivers, supervisors are our biggest markets right now because that’s what we’re focusing on right now as we enter a new school year,” a QCC official said.

Applying for the ADQCC product certification program requires the applicant to submit evidence that the product meets the technical requirements specified by the authority.

Applications are subject to a conformity assessment where submitted evidence will be assessed against the technical requirements of the programme. A successful application allows the use of the “Abu Dhabi Trustmark of Conformity”.

To date, ADQCC has issued more than 2,500 certificates in 427 different programs. Some of these certificates have been issued against cosmetic standards.

ADQCC also integrates inspection and testing services from government laboratories. This helps improve the efficiency of verification and testing services.

The laboratory provides testing services for food and beverages, water, building materials, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, cosmetics and agriculture in the UAE.

“Working with social capital, the laboratory has also established an authorization system for laboratory efficiency,” an ADQCC official said. “This helps the council to fully utilize its inspection capacity, support the private sector and provide most of the services required by Abu Dhabi government agencies in areas such as construction and building materials.”