MoU signed between UL and Emirates for ESMA

UL, a premier safety science company signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with UAE’s sole certification authority, Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA). With this MoU, UL will be recognized and authorized by ESMA to conduct complete conformity assessment, testing, inspection and market surveillance methodologies and requirements for certification of safety and energy efficiency products in the UAE.

Under the MoU, UL’s test facilities will be authorized to conduct testing of products for safety certification and energy efficiency labeling as per ESMA regulations. Currently there are 16 products under regulation for safety, covering 32 standards and 4 for energy efficiency. The products include electric storage, water heaters, electric irons, microwave ovens, room air conditioners and more such electrical and gas appliances.

ESMA was established in 2001 as a standardization body in the UAE, formulating standards for products as per regulatory guidelines in the country. ESMA issues two types of certificates – the mandatory Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme (ECAS) and the voluntary Emirates Quality mark (EQM) to local and imported products which have to be verified for compliance against national standards. ESMA issues policy and regulations on standards while implementation of the standards and certification process is outsourced to third party certification organizations.