GCC stands for the Gulf Cooperation Council. This council was established in May 1981 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and its member countries include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Kingdom of Bahrain. GCC certification refers to the certification requirements that must be met for specific products to enter the regional market.
1. Regulatory Basis and Standards for Certification GCC certification is based on the unified standards and technical regulations established by the Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO). These regulations and standards align with internationally accepted standards in areas such as electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility, and restrictions on hazardous substances, but also incorporate specific provisions based on the actual conditions and needs of the Gulf region. For example, in terms of electrical safety, there are strict requirements for grounding and insulation performance of electrical products to prevent electric shock accidents; in terms of electromagnetic compatibility, there are limits on the electromagnetic interference produced by products to ensure they can operate normally in their environment without interfering with other devices.
2. Certification Process 1. Application Submission: The applicant submits an application to a GCC-recognized certification body, providing detailed product information such as product manuals, technical drawings, and parts lists, as well as relevant qualification documents for the applicant and manufacturer, such as business licenses and production permits. 2. Product Testing: The certification body will send samples to designated laboratories for comprehensive testing based on GSO standards. The testing items depend on the product type; for example, electronic products need to undergo electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility testing, while toys require physical, chemical, and electrical safety testing. For instance, electronic products will be tested for stability and insulation resistance under different voltage conditions. 3. Review and Evaluation: The certification body conducts a comprehensive review and evaluation of the application documents and products based on the test results. If the test results do not meet the standards, the applicant must rectify the product and resubmit it for testing. 4. Issuance of Certificate: Upon passing the review, the certification body will issue a GCC certification certificate for products that meet the requirements.
3. Scope of Products for GCC Certification:1. Household electric fans;2. Household electric heating devices;3. Refrigerators and freezers;4. Instant water heaters;5. Plugs, sockets, adapters, extension cord assemblies, and chargers;6. Air conditioners;7. Hairdressing equipment and hair dryers;8. Microwave ovens, induction cookers, gas stoves, grills, and toasters;9. Washing machines and dryers;10. Food grinders and mixers, fruit or vegetable juicers; furniture, bunk beds, garbage bins, paints, swimming pools, clothing, carpets, building glass materials, bicycles, helmets, etc.
4. Requirements for GCC Certification:1. The GCC mark certification certificate has a validity period of 3 years, with the possibility of applying for an extension; changes can be applied for during the validity period.2. After obtaining certification, importers must affix the GCC mark and the corresponding GCC compliance certificate number on each product.3. GCC does not require factory audits or inspections; certificates are issued after testing; after obtaining the certificate, a direct application for inspection can be made to obtain the Saudi SASO certificate.4. The GCC mandatory product catalog can be checked based on HS customs codes to determine whether the product falls within the mandatory certification scope (all toy products are within the mandatory scope).
5. GCC Certification Documentation:1. Application form;2. Manuals in Arabic and English, nameplates, and bilingual consistency declarations;3. Factory quality management documents (manufacturer ISO9001 and business license);4. Compliance declaration and risk assessment report;5. Trademark registration certificate and trademark authorization letter (if the trademark is not owned by the applicant);6. If the applicant holds a CB test certificate, they must provide a valid CB test certificate and report within the last 3 years;7. Safety test reports and EMC test reports;8. Consistency declaration from the manufacturer and importer;9. Photos of the product and nameplate;10. Electronic and mechanical schematics.
