The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) has developed a first-of-its-kind National System for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), with the aim of boosting the capacity of the industrial sector in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The MoIAT collaborated with various government and private sector partners to develop the state-of-the-art system that lays out a set of technical specifications for manufacturing Personal Protective Equipment including face masks, medical gloves, eye shields, medical clothing, chemical sterilisers, and disinfectants among other products in accordance with international standards.

With this initiative, the ministry aims to fulfill its central role to enhance the industrial capacity of the UAE, support the business sector and advanced industries to augment the UAE's position as a global leader in quality infrastructure systems.

After receiving the UAE Cabinet's approval, the system is all set to start its operations by the first quarter of 2021. As soon as it starts working, the system will ensure that high-quality standards for PPEs are supplied in UAE markets, preventing any sub-standard products from entering the shelves.

Responding to the development, Abdulla Al Maeeni, Head of Standardisation and Metrology Department at the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, stated that the National System will be made compulsory for the industries. It will enlist all the required technical specifications of personal protective equipment in order to achieve the highest international standards to support the efforts of the UAE healthcare sector's medical cadre.

Al Maeeni explained the system includes basic PPE products that are used in the medical sector such as various kinds of face masks, protective and medical gloves, protective clothing, eye protectors, chemical sterilizers, and disinfectants, that are aimed at preventing the transmission of pathogens.

He added that the system has been developed by the MoIAT in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Community Protection and its strategic partners, in line with the national efforts to address future pandemics and viruses. The National System for PPE will ensure the quality control of products traded in the UAE market as well as prevent the entry of products that do not comply with the country's standard specification.

Abdulla Al Maeeni extended the Ministry's support to the National Economy, noting that the new system lays the foundation for an integrated infrastructure that will facilitate the assessment of PPEs in order to ensure that they conform with the set standards. It will also contribute to boosting the national economy by enabling UAE manufacturers to operate according to the international best practice, which will make them more competitive both in regional and international markets.

Al Maeeni asserted that the ministry will develop a plan to ensure that the new system is implemented with all relevant authorities in the UAE.

"In accordance with the provisions of the project, it will not be allowed to offer, trade, or market any registered products without obtaining the UAE conformity certificate (ECAS) from MoIAT," Al Maeeni added.

The new system is aimed at catering to the needs of the UAE's healthcare and service sectors as well as those government entities which have been tasked to ensure quality control of the PPE products. In addition to boosting the post-pandemic recovery process, the new system will help in implementing effective measures to contain the spread of Coronavirus in accordance with the highest international standards.

WAM