New standards for electrical appliances

The Ministry of Environment (MoE) has started enforcing new standards for importing electrical appliances into the country, local Arabic daily Arrayah reported yesterday.

Appliances include household electrical ovens, toasters and extension power strips.

According to the new standards and regulations that have been enforced from this month, the voltage should be 240, with 50 hertz frequency.

All electrical appliance should have a compliance certificate from the source country or an equivalent approved inspection certificate that prove compliance. 

The Laboratories and Standardisation Affairs Department at the Ministry of Environment had previously announced the launch of the second phase of the campaign to monitor  electric appliances and machinery. It also posted explanatory information on the regulations of importing and circulating such gadgets.

The department gave businessmen and importers a grace period until September 1 to modify their situation according to the new regulations.

It  affirmed that it would conduct intensive inspection campaigns to make sure that the targeted categories of electrical appliances  were compliant with the approved Qatari standards in this respect. It warned that violators would face legal action.

The department also urged traders and importers to strictly abide by the standards and avoid low quality and counterfeit products for the safety of the general public and to protect their businesses from any potential loss.