IECEE meets with Bahrain Industry and Commerce Minister

IECEE Executive Secretary
Pierre de Ruvo and Industry and
Commerce Minister Hassan Fakhro

Pierre de Ruvo, Executive Secretary of the IECEE, the IEC System of Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components, travelled to Manama, Bahrain in early November 2008, where he was received by the Industry and Commerce Minister Hassan Fakhro.

During the meeting, also attended by Mona A.R. AlZeera, Director of the Bahrain Standardization and Metrology Directorate, a division of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, de Ruvo made several presentations on the IEC and the IECEE.

The first addressed the IEC in general, from its mission, objectives and structure to the advantages of membership and the role of NCs (National Committees). Then, he introduced IEC International Standards, the wide range of technologies they cover and the multiple benefits they offer. In this context de Ruvo also mentioned the IEC Conformity Assessment activities and Systems.

This led to the next series of presentations, focusing on the IECEE as one of three IEC CA (Conformity Assessment) Systems. After an introduction of the IECEE, its structure and functioning, objectives and development, de Ruvo went on to explain in more detail the IECEE CB Scheme, its scope, processes and the benefits for its members. He completed the overview with a description of the IECEE Committee of Testing Laboratories.

The Minister praised the efforts made by the IEC in preparing and developing International Standards that specify minimum technical requirements, which ensure consumer and environmental safety. He also commended the IECEE for the development of the procedures used to enable the verification of conformity of goods and services to IEC International Standards.

Noting that the Kingdom of Bahrain is in the final stages of joining the IEC as an Associate Member, Dr. Fakhro said that this was a positive move for the Kingdom that would give it the opportunity to adopt International Standards. He added that once Bahrain became a member of the IEC, the next step would be to seek membership in the IECEE.

Under the patronage of Dr. Fakhro, Bahrain is to host the GICSE (Gulf IEC – IECEE International Conference for Standardization and Conformity Assessment in Electrotechnology) conference. Originally scheduled for November of this year, the event, organized by the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) Standardization Organization (GSO), together with the Bahrain Industry and Commerce Ministry, the IEC and the IECEE, is now expected to take place next year, in 2009.