Energy efficiency cards contribute to increased direct imports

Muscat: Energy efficiency cards for air conditioners have contributed to increased direct imports from manufacturing countries, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) said in a statement.
The ministry had launched an electronic system for issuing energy efficiency cards for air conditioners. Through this system, a sticker will be placed on the air conditioner. This sticker gives an idea of the electricity consumption, in comparison with other such machines through a star rating system.
Khamis Al Farsi, Director General of Standards and Metrology in the MoCI, said, "The ministry had recently implemented this initiative on July 7, 2019, and as of January 5, 2020, the number of issued cards has reached 373. This has contributed to an increase in direct import from the factory of origin," Al Farsi said.
It has also led to increased control of products through the integrated application of safety requirements and energy efficiency and ensuring high levels of safety for both consumers as well as the environment.
He emphasised that the ministry, with other competent government institutions, is proceeding with the procedures of monitoring the specifications, standards and quality of products, as well as their conformity with the origin in cooperation with other competent government institutions.
"The electrical devices that were seized, violated the actual capacity value with the written value on the product which might cause accidents affecting the health and safety of the consumer. The directorate general has been coordinating with the relevant authorities to withdraw all these products from the market, and to take legal actions against them," Al Farsi.
The ministry calls upon companies importing electrical appliances to make sure before importing these appliances that they comply with the standard specifications in the Sultanate, as the ministry will be taking legal measures against companies that fail to comply.
It is worth noting that the Gulf technical regulations for low-voltage electrical equipment has specified 13 categories of electrical appliances and equipment which should have the Gulf code to track the conformity.
These appliances are electric fans, refrigerators, freezers and other refrigeration or freezing appliances up to 30 cubic feet (850 litres), washing machines and dryers, grinders and food processors, juicers, toasters, hairdressing and hand drying appliances, electric heaters and microwaves, other electric ovens, cooking ovens and stoves, kettles, grills in addition to instant and storage household electric water heaters with a capacity of 200 litres or less, electric irons, plugs, socket outlets, extension cords and chargers and air conditioners.
Al Farsi further said that energy efficiency cards will be applied to the other electrical appliances during the coming period.
Traders and suppliers have been requested to import products directly from the countries of origin, as the Sultanate has all capabilities of ports and airports, which are a catalyst for institutions and companies for direct import from any country without the need for commercial intermediaries.