ESMA meets with manufacturers and traders at the Big 5 2011

Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology conducted meetings with investors, manufacturers and traders in the construction industry at the Big 5 show in Dubai, the region's largest event for the building and construction industry. 

The Federal Authority, through its seminar and close interactions with the participants of the exhibition, gave an overview on what is ESMA’s role in helping various players in the construction sector to enter the UAE and other countries in the region through Emirates Quality Marking system that boost the UAE’s economy as well. 

Eng Mohammed Saleh Badri, Acting Director General, ESMA gave a speech, entitled, “Accessing the UAE economy through standards”, in a seminar held on the sidelines of the event. In his speech, Badri emphasized ESMA’s commitment to help local industry become competent globally through compliance with local and international standards. 

“The Emirates Quality Mark Scheme is now accepted in different countries around the world and compliance with this scheme widens your opportunity to access international markets,” Badri said. 

ESMA is the authorized body in the UAE to grant the Emirates Quality Mark (EQM), which is issued to ensure that products comply with the approved standards and to give consumers confidence in the products that carry this mark and are circulated both locally or in external export markets. EQM is a distinction mark granted to a certain product. It proves that this product meets the approved standards and its production system consistently meets other requirements set by ESMA. 

ESMA, a full member of the ISO, has also consistently been taking steps to tighten its quality checks in the UAE through the Emirates Conformity Assessment System (ECAS). The benefit of this certification is the quality assurance that comes with it – an engineering consultant can be certain that ECAS-stamped construction material is trustworthy. 

ESMA is also operating the National Accreditation System (ENAS), which guarantees impartiality, integrity and independence of the accreditation of construction activities in term of products, systems, and personnel among other different activities and meeting the international requirements. 

More than 2,300 exhibitors from 75 countries are taking part in The Big 5 show, which has been taking place in Dubai annually for more than 30 years. 

ESMA has also taken the opportunity to discuss new regulations such as the new rules on the Air-Conditioning units. ESMA, by next year, will be restricting the entry of inefficient air-conditioning units in the country and has begun rolling out energy efficiency labeling system for window type and split-system. 

ESMA has finalized the Energy Efficiency Labeling System, which allows consumers to distinguish efficient products by the stars and certificates accorded to them. Beginning January 2012, no air-conditioning unit will be allowed entry to the UAE unless they comply with energy efficiency labeling system. ESMA also discussed many other standards regulations in the construction sector. 

“This event has given us a great opportunity to closely interact with our key stakeholders in the construction sector and we look forward to participating in this exhibition again next year,” Badri added.