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Cabinet approves fees for metrological services

ABU DHABI - The UAE cabinet approved the fees for metrological services carried out by the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA), in relation to the verification of legal measuring instruments. These fees will be effective starting the beginning of 2012.

Engineer Mohammed Ahmad Al Mulla, Director of Metrology Department in the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology, stated that the decision would help the Authority to execute its strategic plan, aimed at protecting the rights of consumers, traders & manufacturers in the state, through the activation of control over legal measuring instruments, including the balances and commercial weights, fuel dispensers, taxi meters, commercial measurements of length, medical measuring instruments, tire-pressure measuring instruments, liquid gas meters as well as pre-packaging measurements.

Al Mulla also pointed out that this project will be initiated in coordination with the strategic partners of the ESMA, within its efforts to apply the National Measurement System, issued by the Cabinet in Resolution No. 31 of 2006, and the Technical Regulation issued accordingly.

These procedures will contribute to promoting the competitiveness of the national economy, through the creation of trustable national measurement system and accurate measurements used in the local market and industries, based on the International System of Units applied in the United Arab Emirates. ESMA had already conducted a study to determine the errors in the weights used in jewelry shops, and the results of that study clearly indicated the need to activate the control of periodic control on these balances to protect the rights of both the merchants and the consumers and to avoid errors in measurement resulting from lack of maintenance, neglect or misuse of these instruments.

Al Mulla concluded by saying that ESMA coordinated with the Ministry of Finance in conducting a comprehensive study for determining these fees. The study included comparisons with other countries that already have metrological services in place, such as Jordan, Qatar & Australia, and the fees were established on clear basis and transparent criteria, aiming at protecting the rights, health & environment of consumers, traders & manufacturers through control of these instruments.