UL Standards & Engagement and the GCC Standardization Organization Establish Formal Partnership to Increase Standardization in the Middle East

Joint goals include collaborating to promote trade while helping protect the environment and public health

On September 27, 2021, UL Standards & Engagement and the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) signed a collaborative memorandum of understanding (MOU), formalizing an agreement to work together while promoting safety, security, and sustainability through standardization in the Middle East.

GSO is a non-profit, intergovernmental standardization organization consisting of member states in the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC). GSO works to unify the various activities of standardization bodies in the member states and follows up implementation with cooperation and coordination to develop production and service sectors in the region, foster intra-GCC trade, enhance the GCC economy and its competitiveness, and meet the requirements of the Gulf Custom Union and Gulf Common Market. It also aims to protect consumers, the environment and public health through its activities—a focus shared by UL Standards & Engagement in its mission of working for a safer world.

While both organizations have collaborated prior to the MOU signing, the agreement specifies joint goals and initiatives for efforts moving forward. Under the terms of the MOU, UL Standards & Engagement and GSO agree to promote reciprocal communication between both organizations, avoid duplication of work efforts where possible, support harmonization efforts where there is interest and increase knowledge of each other’s standards development activities—allowing for the adoption, reference, translation and use of UL standards, as deemed appropriate by GCC.

“This is a great partnership and a boost to our continued effort towards facilitating standards development in the Middle East region,” said Phil Piqueira, vice president of global standards at UL Standards & Engagement. “We are committed to supporting GSO and its member countries in building a cohesive, quality ecosystem with global standards as its foundation. We are honored to sign this MOU, and we are looking forward to building a stronger relationship with GSO as we work on standards development together.”

“Starting from today, together, we will mark and draw the beginning of what we hope will be a long and fruitful collaboration and will increase mutual understanding between our two organizations to support and enhance the international standardization for better life,” said GSO President Saud AlKhusaibi. “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate both organizations on this great achievement toward enhancing our cooperation and our joint efforts for building a long-term and strategic partnership”.

The agreement was signed virtually by both parties.