ESMA organizes a workshop on the mechanism of shifting to the International System of Units (SI)

Abu Dhabi, UAE - 26 October 2011 - Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology (ESMA) has conducted a comprehensive workshop regarding the mechanism of implementing the use of International System of Units (SI) replacing feet, inches and yards in favor of meters in the UAE.

The meeting was participated by key entities, including the representatives from the Land and Property Departments, UAE municipalities; Abu Dhabi Conformity and Quality Council; UAE Society of Engineers and Contractors Association; and other concerned parties in the country.

The regulation, which takes effect on 11 November 2011, mandates companies operating in the UAE to stop using Imperial, US Customary Units, and other system of units other than the SI, in their official and commercial activities.

H.E. Eng. Mohammad Saleh Badri, Acting Director General, ESMA, said: "This workshop complements our extensive efforts to implement the decision to adopt the national system of units, as per Cabinet's Decree No. 31 of 2006, which states in Article VIII that the SI units is the exclusive basis of the legal units of measurement in the country.

"ESMA has been coordinating and conducting meetings with the concerned authorities, especially with the land and property departments and UAE municipalities, on the replacement of foot as a unit of measurement We have distributed questionnaires to those bodies to study the units used in their transactions and the results showed that there is a serious need to standardize the unit of measurements in the UAE."

Participants recognized the importance of this federal decision, which aims to support the national economy by unifying the measurement units on the national level, in line with international practices. They also openly discussed the challenges in the implementation of the regulation.

According to Eng. Mohammed Al Mulla, Director of Metrology Department, ESMA circulated this decision to the concerned authorities in the country after it was published in the Official Gazette in its issue No. 523 dated 29 May 2011.

Eng. Al Mulla commended the cooperation of ESMA's key partners and their positive response in this regard, and stressed that the success of implementing such decision is achieved through concerted efforts of all parties concerned.

Eng. Al Mulla added: "Going forward, ESMA will coordinate with local and federal agencies for the prohibition of using illegal units of measurement, on various products.

The regulation to replace feet and yards with meter effective 11/11/11 follows the UAE's introduction of litre instead of gallon as unit of fuel from January 1, this year. All oil companies and corporations operating in the UAE have since been using litre as a unit of measurement for the fuel, instead of the gallon.

-Ends-

About ESMA

Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) was established as the sole standardization body in the UAE under the Law No. 28/2001. The board of directors chaired by H.E. Dr. Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, the Minister of Environment & Water in the UAE, comprises representatives of the main parties involved in the standardization of the UAE. The board is the dominant body and lays down its policy of adopting all the suitable procedures to ensure efficient performance to its assignments.

Its tasks include formulating and issuance of national standards of UAE as well as adopting international standards and mandatory standards issued by binding resolutions of the Council Ministers; working on consumer protection, environment and national market and strengthening the national economy; preparation of standard specifications for reviewing by the specialized technical committees; a national system of measurement and calibration; follow up, monitor and advise on the application of standards adopted to commercial and industrial sectors around the constraints of conformity and quality; granting the Emirates Quality Mark for national products and issuing certificates of conformity of commodities to standards; accredit testing and calibration laboratories; issuance of the publications and distribution and selling of UAE standards and other informational activities; and represent the country in regional and international conferences and organizations.

© Press Release 2011