Conformity marking for the GCC Countries

As the member of GCC, Kuwait agree to operate the technical regulation. Besides the GCC regulated products, other products must meet the KUCAS requirements.

​

Kuwait Conformity Assurance Scheme (KUCAS)

Exporters and manufacturers of regulated products to be shipped to Kuwait must meet the requirements of the Kuwait Conformity Assurance Scheme (KUCAS), implemented by the Public Authority for Industry (PAI).

​

The Public Authority for Industry of the State of Kuwait (PAI) has implemented the ‘Kuwait Conformity Assurance Scheme’ (KUCAS) as of 17 June, 2006. The scheme is a set of procedures carried out by PAI to verify the conformity of all ‘Regulated Products’ to Kuwait’s Technical Regulations applicable to imported and domestic products alike in accordance with the regulations of this scheme. 

​

REGULATED PRODUCTS

All the products listed in Appendix A are subject to the technical requirements and Kuwaiti Standards that have been adopted as mandatory Technical Regulations for the protection and safety of the Kuwaiti consumer and prevention of deceptive practices, in accordance with the ‘Standards Unification Law’ which grants PAI the authority for preparation, adoption and application of standards for all products on the Kuwaiti market. These Regulated Products have been classified into (2) classes:

•  Process Manufactured Products: These products are characterized by susceptibility to change in their final nature as a result of probable changes in the nature of the raw materials used and the manufacturing process controls, whereby production is organized in batches. As such, these products are classified as high-risk products requiring frequent verification of conformity.

•  Non-Process Manufactured Products: These products are characterized by low probability of change in the nature of the final product in comparison with a ‘typical’ sample of that product, thereby allowing for low frequency of testing for verification of conformity. 

 

IMPORTED PRODUCTS

All consignments of imported ‘Regulated Products’ are subject to conformity assurance procedures via one of the following (2) routes:

1)  Procedures at the Exporting Country: Manufacturer or exporter completes conformity procedures at the Exporting Country through one of the Certification/Inspection Bodies that have been approved by PAI in accordance with PAI’s predetermined criteria (‘Approved CIB’).

2)  Local Procedures: Importer completes conformity procedures upon arrival of consignments of Regulated Products at Kuwaiti Ports through KUCAS ‘Conformity Unit’ under the Standards & Metrology Department at PAI. 

​

Technical Evaluation Report (TER)

In case of frequent exporting of the Regulated Product, and in order to avoid subjecting the product to ‘full testing’ in subsequent consignments, the exporter can apply to the Approved CIB for obtaining a ‘Technical Evaluation Report’ (TER) based on the ‘full tests’, valid for (2) years from the date of the test report or (3) years for CB Reports for electrical products. In case the Product has been granted an internationally recognized Quality Mark, and neither the product has changed nor the applicable standard upgraded or amended, the test report is valid for the same period deemed valid by the Certification Body that has granted the Quality Mark. 

​

Technical Evaluation Certificate (TEC)

In case of frequent importing of the Regulated Product, and in order to avoid subjecting the product to ‘full testing’ in subsequent consignments, the importer can apply to PAI for obtaining a ‘Technical Evaluation Certificate’ (TEC) based on the ‘full test’. The TEC would be valid for (2) years from the date of the test report.

 

Technical Inspection (TI) / Certificate of Conformity (CoC) / Clearance Approval

Technical Inspection involves verification that all the requirements of the applicable standards that can be visually checked are satisfied (such as volume/weight of container/package and markings, voltage rating and plug configuration ...etc). All consignments of Regulated Products that had obtained a ‘Technical Evaluation Certificate’ must be subjected to selective ‘Technical Inspection’ either prior to shipment by the same ‘Approved CIB’ that has tested the product or issued the ‘Technical Evaluation Report’ at the exporting country (per A1 above), or upon arrival of the consignment to one of Kuwait’s Ports by PAI’s KUCAS ‘Conformity Unit’ in the case of local conformity procedures (per A2 above). Consignments are selected for Technical Inspection, and a decision is rendered of whether to draw samples for testing, in accordance with the ‘Risk Assessment1 System’ in effect. For ‘Non-Process’ class products, random samples may be drawn from consignments from time-to-time and tested partially for conformity of the ‘essential requirements’ to verify continued conformity. On the other hand, consignments of ‘Process’ class products are subject to frequent drawing of samples and testing either to verify conformity to the ‘essential requirements’ or to the full requirements from time to time.