The UAE’s regulation concerning the control of electrical and electronic products in the market has now added gas-powered cookers and other gas-powered cooking appliances.

The regulation brings the total number of government-controlled appliances to 12.

The law, approved last month by the UAE cabinet, is scheduled for implementation beginning 2012. The move follows the successful monitoring and control of electric stoves last year.

Currently, Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology  (Esma) – the federal agency in charge of the conformity and standards– controls and monitors the quality of plugs, extension cords, electric irons, microwave ovens, washing machines and dryers, electric stoves, refrigerators, heaters, freezers and chillers and room air conditioners available in the country.

“We have begun controlling gas cylinders but we also have to monitor gas-powered cookers as they form a potential hazard to the lives and safety of people and properties. We estimate that beginning 2012, all gas-powered cooking appliances will have to be verified and certified by Esma,” said Mohammad Saleh Badri, acting director general, Esma.

As per the government’s requirement, all cooking appliances – gas and electric-powered – will have to obtain approval from Esma before it is allowed entry to the UAE.

Esma is now in the process of controlling gas cylinders but to ensure optimum safety, the authority is also concentrating on preventing any problem that may arise from appliances that do not conform to the standards issued by GCC Standardization Organization (GSO).

Esma will implement the programme in coordination with the UAE Customs offices, UAE Civil Defense departments, and other local authorities. Esma is also in the process of issuing the certificates of conformity electronically through UAE’s e-government where the supplier can get approval on line.-TradeArabia News Service