IEC standard amendments and new editions greatly impact the certification process for the Standardization Organization for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GSO) countries’ market access. To maintain the possibility of exporting in GSO countries, manufacturers need to update their existing certificates and submit updated test reports for new applications by the end of the transition period.
Accessing GSO member states’ markets requires a Gulf Type Examination certificate for specified categories of household electrical appliances.
Manufacturers need to keep certificates active and valid to meet regulation requirements. To do so:
- Register on the GSO online certificate tracking system
- Update whenever products undergo changes
The GSO issues certificates according to standards and editions currently included in the list of harmonized standards. GSO standards develop through the endorsement of the latest editions of IEC standards with a two-year transition period.
See the table below for a summary of the next implementation dates and products involved for the period between January and December 2022.
| Product category | Standard | Mandatory implementation date |
|---|---|---|
| Household refrigerators, freezers and other refrigerating or freezing equipment | IEC 60335-2-24:2020 (Ed. 8.0) | Sept. 16, 2022 |
| Room heaters | SASO IEC 60335-2-30-2021 | Mandatory for Saudi Arabia only starting from Feb. 20, 2022 |
| Household microwave ovens | IEC 60335-2-25:2020 (Ed. 7.0) | Jan. 8, 2022 |
| Household electric instantaneous or storage water heaters (up to 200 L capacity) | IEC 60335-2-35: 2012 +AMD1:2016 +AMD2:2020 (Ed. 5.2) | June 4, 2022 |
| Household electric instantaneous or storage water heaters (up to 200 L capacity) | SASO IEC 60335-2-21-2021 | Mandatory for Saudi Arabia only from Feb. 20, 2022 |
| Cord extension sets | SASO 2815-2021 | Mandatory for Saudi Arabia only from Feb. 20, 2022 |
| EMC – emissions | CISPR 14-1: 2020 (Ed. 7.0) | Sept. 7, 2022 |
| EMC – immunity | CISPR 14-2: 2020 (Ed. 3.0) | Aug. 31, 2022 |
| EMC – harmonic current emissions | IEC 61000-3-2: 2018+AMD1:2020 (Ed. 5.1) | July 14, 2022 |
| EMC – emissions (generic EMC standard applicable only when product standards or family product standards don’t exist) | IEC 61000-6-3: 2020 (Ed. 3.0) | July 30, 2022 |
As you prepare to navigate the ever-evolving regulatory landscape for GSO countries, UL is here to help. Contact us to find out more about our Global Market Access capabilities and how we can help you gain access to these markets.
Get connected with our sales team
Thanks for your interest in our products and services. Let's collect some information so we can connect you with the right person.