*Move aimed at enhancing competitiveness national products
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani launched on Sunday the Qatar Quality Mark, in order to enhance the competitiveness of national goods in the local, regional and global markets and support development plans and consumer protection.
During the ceremony held on this occasion, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior granted the Qatar Quality Mark to Al Qataria for Production of Reinforcing Steel, which was the first facility that fulfilled the criteria for obtaining the mark, from among several organisations that applied for this.
The programme began with a presentation on the Qatar Quality Mark and its benefits for consumers and enterprises and the mechanism for conforming the commodity to the approved standard specifications, in addition to increasing competitive opportunities among companies.
Qatar Quality Mark is a badge that is granted by Qatar General Organisation for Standards and Metrology, and it is used to advertise the licensed commodity in the media during the period of validity of the license; it is placed on the goods by the methods approved by the Organisation.
On the occasion, HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry Ali bin Ahmed al- Kuwari stressed that launching the Quality Mark was an important step towards promoting the concept of quality and conforming to the specifications approved in the country.
Getting the Qatar Quality Mark is the best evidence of efficiency and quality for any national company and it supports the companies' ability to continue their efforts to upgrade their products in accordance with the specifications and standards set in the country, he pointed.
HE the minister praised the efforts of the Qatar General Organisation for Standardisation (QATAR STANDARDS ) in supporting and developing national institutions and establishments and encourage them to apply national standards and adopt best international practices for their products.
HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry congratulated Al Qataria for Production of Reinforcing Steel for obtaining the first Qatari quality mark for its products, pointing out that this is an important achievement in light of the great progress that the country has been witnessing in the construction sector.
For his part, Chairman of QATAR STANDARDS Engineer Muhammad bin Saud Muhammad a- Musallam, said Qatar Quality Mark enhanced the competitiveness of products in the local, regional and global markets.
He said the "Qatar Quality Mark" has many advantages, as it contributes to gaining the trust of customers and increases the products' value and opportunities for competition in the local and foreign markets.
The "Qatar Quality Mark" is an optional mark placed on a product as evidence of its conformity with the approved national standards and that it has been examined and tested by an internationally recognised "certified laboratory".
It is a badge that is granted by QATAR STANDARDS to indicate the quality control mechanism in the facility and is placed on the commodity (sticking or engraving), in a way that is difficult to remove, or on the commodity's packaging in the event that the commodity does not allow the mark to be placed on it.
In order to obtain the mark, the facility must fulfill a number of conditions and standards stipulated in the "Qatar Quality Mark" regulation adopted from the international requirements and regulations for granting the quality mark. The license to use the Qatar quality mark is valid for a renewable period of two years.
