Plans were in the pipeline to establish specialised laboratories to confirm if the quality of textiles, fabrics and garments that enter Bahrain's markets are in line with GCC standards, said a senior government official.

Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro told Shura Council members he hoped the scheme would be listed in the new budget for next year and 2014.

"In the past we have tried to allocate a budget for the labs but it was never added to our spending," said Dr Fakhro.

"The ministry is hopeful that this year we would include it for next year's budget and for 2014. We have to note that there are no precise criteria to judge the quality of textiles, fabrics and garments but everything that enters the country is in accordance to agreed GCC criteria and standards.”

"This is done through the National Committee for Standards and Specifications. But whenever we discover faulty products through random sample check or through complaints sent to the ministry, we immediately take action against involved merchants, who sell low-quality products,” he added.

Dr Fakhro was responding to questions by the council's legislative and legal affairs committee and the woman and child committee vice-chairwoman Rabab Al Arrayedh on inspecting textiles, fabrics and garments that enter the market.

Al Arrayedh said the absence of specialised labs has resulted in numerous low-quality products to enter the market in bulk quantities without any control.

"The presence of bad and low-quality products in the market is mainly due to the absence of these labs that could help in stopping products that don't follow acceptable criteria," she said.

"We acknowledge the ministry's efforts to have the labs and to prevent such products from entering the market, but we hope that unified GCC standards and specialisations are issued in this regard to help ease work." – TradeArabia News Service