Bahrain-based Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill Company (Garmco) said its locally-manufactured products have received the CE (European Conformity) mark thus paving for its exports to European Union (EU) countries.

The CE (abbreviation of French phrase "Conformité Européene which literally means European Conformity) is a mandatory conformity marking for certain products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA) since 1985.

The CE Marking on a product is a manufacturer's declaration that it complies with the essential requirements of the relevant European health, safety and environmental protection legislation, in practice by many of the so-called product directives.

These are also found on products sold outside the EEA that are manufactured in, or designed to be sold in, the EEA. It is, in that sense, similar to the FCC Declaration of Conformity used on certain electronic devices sold in the US.

An international aluminium rolling mill and one of the largest downstream aluminium facilities in the Middle East, Garmco said the CE mark (formerly EC mark) is the manufacturer's declaration that the product meets the requirements of the applicable EC directives.

CE Marking on a product also ensures the free movement of the product within the EFTA & European Union (EU) single market (total 28 countries).

With this approval, Garmco said it has become the first company in Bahrain to get CE certification from TUV Middle East (Member of TUV Nord Group) for its products manufactured at the Bahrain facility intended for exports.

The feta was achieved after rigorous process of implementation procedure and audits for over a period of one year.

TUV Middle East sales executive Godly George handed over the certificate to Ramakumar, the country manager on behalf of Garmco senior management team.

On the EU approval, CEO Jean-Baptiste Lucas said: "This recognition is surely an encouragement for us to continue delivering the highest standards of services to our clients; we shall continue with our set strategic business plans and our confident commitment to the industry to realize and adding value to aluminium."

Established in 1981, Garmco is one of the largest downstream aluminum facilities in the Middle East with an annual production capacity of 160,000 ton.

The company specialises in producing rolled aluminum products in various sizes and alloys, including circles, sheets and coils; while a foil mill of 20,000 tons capacity produces semi-rigid container stock.

These products are exported to key markets around the world, from Australia to the US. Accreditation to all relevant ISO, OSHAS and BCMS standards underlines Garmco’s commitment to quality, health and safety, information security, and protection of the environment, said Lucas.-TradeArabia News Service