A Guide to Key ESMA Product Certification Schemes & Standards

Placing a product in the UAE marketplace is a regulated process overseen by the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA). Importers, manufacturers and sellers of regulated products must perform ESMA product registration in the UAE before placing the product in the local marketplace. However, the suppliers must be aware of the product certification schemes and technical standards relevant to their specific products to ensure compliance.

Businesses often find it tough to determine the type of certification they must meet to sell their products in the UAE. This article intends to shed light on the product certification schemes and standards developed by the ESMA to regulate certain products. Further insights on the schemes can be provided by product certification agents in Dubai. Stated below are the key schemes and standards businesses must meet to legally distribute their products in the UAE:

Emirates Quality Mark

Emirates Quality Mark or EQM is a mark of conformity granted to local products that comply with relevant UAE National Standards, Regional and/or International Standards. The EQM will be granted to those products manufactured by a local company that implements a robust Quality Management System to ensure continuous compliance with health & safety standards set out by the ESMA.

The products and the quality system used by the manufacturers will be subjected to a comprehensive evaluation to grant the license to use the EQM in the UAE. The process of license grant involves auditing, testing and inspection conducted by the ESMA officials. Products that clear the process can print the EQM on the certified product as proof of compliance and approval by the Federal Government through ESMA. EQM certificate can be used to clear shipments from Ports and Customs Authorities.

Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme

Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme or ECAS is a product certification scheme implemented by the ESMA as mandated by the Federal Law 28 of 2001. Under this scheme, all the products regulated by the ESMA are required to meet the standards for safety and quality specified in the Technical Regulations adopted by the UAE government.

Suppliers of the regulated products are required to register their products and obtain a Certificate of Conformity under the ECAS scheme to legally distribute their products within the UAE. An ECAS certificate is proof that the regulated product has been approved by the UAE government through ESMA. ECAS is one of the top documents requested by the Ports and Customs Authorities to issue clearance during shipment.

Energy Efficiency Standards and Labelling

Electrical appliances must ensure compliance with UAE Technical Regulations such as Energy Efficiency Standards and Labelling or EESL. As per the EESL program, the electrical appliances products must include certain key information on the label to communicate to the customers how efficient an appliance is in the amount of energy and resource it uses against its performance.

As per the rules of ESMA product certification in the UAE, electrical appliances that fail to comply with EESL standards will not be allowed to be sold in the local market. Product certification agents in Dubai can help the suppliers to ensure compliance with the EESL program. The following products are covered under the scheme:

• Commercial and central air conditioners
• Household air conditioners
• Household refrigerators, freezers and refrigerator-freezers
• Household storage water heaters
• Household washing machines, including washer-dryers and tumble dryers

Restriction of Hazardous Substances Standard

The Restriction of Hazardous Substances Standard (RoHS) is a prerequisite to certifying the Electronic and Electric Equipment (EEE) products with the ESMA. Suppliers of EEE products must ensure compliance with the RoHS standard for the safety of the environment and the health of the general public. As the production and usage of EEE products surged, the volume of electrical and electronic waste has also increased across the world including in the UAE.

EEE products containing harmful chemicals such as lead, mercury and cadmium can create a greater threat to the environment and lead to health issues for the public. The government introduced the RoHS standard as a requirement for ESMA product certification in the UAE to address such environmental and health challenges associated with the EEE products. The UAE has modelled its RoHS system on the European Union’s (EU) RoHS system.  The following types of products are required to meet RoHS standards in the UAE,

• Large household appliances such as refrigerators, microwaves, electric fans
• Small household appliances such as vacuum cleaners, hairdryers, coffee makers, irons etc.
• IT equipment such as computers, printers etc.
• Consumer products such as Television, stereo, video camera etc.
• Lighting products such as electric lamps, light fixtures, light bulbs etc.
• EEE tools such as drills, trimmers, sprayers etc.
• Toys, sports & leisure equipment such as video games, treadmills, talking dolls etc.
• Medical devices such as In-vitro diagnostic medical devices
• Monitoring & control equipment such as fire alarms & smoke detectors
• Automatic dispensers such as ATMs & vending machines

How can Jitendra Intellectual Property Help You?

Suppliers are required to ensure their products comply with relevant certification schemes and standards to distribute the regulated products in the UAE marketplace. Seeking expert assistance for conducting ESMA product certification in the UAE is advisable to avoid instances of non-compliance. Product certification agents in Dubai such as Jitendra Intellectual Property (JIP) will help the businesses to ensure compliance with relevant schemes and standards set out by the ESMA.

JIP is one of the leading providers of product registration services in Dubai, UAE. We will advise you on the type of certification and standards mandatory for specific products. Our consultants can assist you with key requirements such as laboratory tests, labelling requirements and ensuring compliance with mandatory safety standards. Avail of our bespoke services today to place your products in the UAE market legally.