GCC Standardization Organization facts for kids
 |
|
| Abbreviation | GSO |
|---|---|
|
Official languages
|
|
The GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) is a group that creates rules and guidelines for products and services. These rules are called standards. The GSO helps countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Yemen make sure their products are safe and work well.
It was started by the Gulf Cooperation Council. Its full name is "The Standardization Organization of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf." The GSO has its main office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It also has another office in Jeddah.
If there isn't a GSO standard for something, they look at existing rules from around the world. They might decide to use those rules. The GSO also planned to create a group called "GULFME" to help with measurements. They have even worked with companies like PepsiCo.
As of 2010, the GSO had created about 2,700 standards. Each country in the GCC is responsible for making sure these standards are followed.
What Kinds of Things Does GSO Standardize?
The GSO creates standards for many different areas. These include:
- Water quality
- Rules for fire safety
- Halal foods (foods prepared according to Islamic law)
- Food safety rules
- Packaging and labeling of certain products
GSO Rules for Product Packaging
The GSO has specific rules for how some products are packaged and labeled. These rules help make sure people get clear information. For example, GSO 597/2009 covers technical rules for some products. GSO 246/2011 focuses on how product packages should be labeled.
Each new rule is first prepared by one of the six GCC countries. Then, the other five countries approve it. For instance, Qatar prepared GSO 597/2009. The UAE prepared GSO 246/2011. This rule says that certain product packages sold in the GCC must have warnings. These warnings should cover half of the front and back of the package. They must also include specific pictures and text. The front of the package uses Arabic text, and the back uses English.
