Signing a Memorandum of Understanding between SASO and Directorate of Civil Defense
SASO and the General Directorate of Civil Defense signed a memorandum of understanding for technical cooperation between the two sides. The memorandum was signed by His Excellency the Governor of SASO, Dr. Saad bin Othman Alkasabi and the Director General of Civil Defense, Major General Suliman bin Abdullah Al-Amro.
Dr. Saad Alkasabi stressed on the importance of cooperation between SASO and the Civil Defense, pointing that the cooperation, coordination and enhancement of fields of experience exchange between the two parties leads to establish confidence and raise the efficiency of Saudi standards.
The Major General expressed his pleasure in signing the memorandum of understanding with SASO, stressing that it aims at achieving integration in the roles of full cooperation and continuous coordination between the two parties; to set the necessary plans to develop and prepare Saudi technical standards and regulations, which serve the public interest between both parties. Al- Amro expects that the memorandum will contribute to the promotion and implementation of quality and excellence, the preparation of scientific and technical competencies in different disciplines, and the alignment of its outputs with national requirements in all aspects related to civil defense and its services to prevent risks and protect properties in line with the vision of the Kingdom 2030.
The memorandum stipulated for technical cooperation in the field of preparing, reviewing and updating standard specifications and technical regulations, to consolidate confidence in Saudi standard specifications and technical regulations issued by SASO for all services related to civil defense. In addition, the memorandum referred to the inclusion of the Civil Defense's proposed standard specifications and technical regulations for the products and services related to SASO's plan for standard specifications and technical regulations. It also noted that the Civil Defense will head the technical committees specialized in the preparation of Saudi standards related to its duties.
Furthermore, the memorandum included the training of technical cadres and competencies between the two sides and cooperation in the implementation of training programs "workshops, seminars and conferences" in areas of mutual interest. Moreover, the cooperation focused on the fields of information and awareness raising, information exchange and publications are continuously promoted in areas related to standardization, quality and conformity activities in the Kingdom. Moreover, it focused on the benefit of both parties, including specialists and experts working on the implementation of programs, initiatives and projects of common interest in ways agreed upon between them, to implement the projects.
The memorandum of agreement stressed on the need for cooperation in the fields of quality, conformity and consumer safety regulations such as toys, appliances, electrical equipment and energy efficiency devices to evaluate and improve their procedures, in order to reduce the percentage of non-conforming goods and to protect the consumer and the market.