H.E. Mr. Saud Al-Khushabu’s Speech, the GSO President

On the Occasion of World Metrology Day

May 20, 2023

Measurements supporting the global food system

In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful

The GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) and GULFMET share with similar national, regional, and international organizations in the world the celebration of World Metrology Day, which falls on May 20 of each year and is celebrated this year under the theme.

“Measurements support the global food system.”

On this occasion, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to all staff in the National Standardization bodies of the Member States, especially those working in the field of metrology, emphasizing the role of metrology in various aspects of everyday life.

The theme of this year's event was chosen due to what food represents in this period of great concern to the consumer, as providing safe food and accessing it at reasonable prices remains a significant challenge for governments and relevant organizations around the world, in light of the considerable increase in the volume of global trade in the food sector, which amounted to $22 trillion in 2021 and accounted for nearly 20% of the total international trade.

Access to quality food at a reasonable price to global markets requires that producers prove that they meet the requirements of standards and technical regulations related to food; in addition to the need for governments to ensure fair trade, especially in local food markets, this is achieved by providing a metrology infrastructure that provides reliable measurements of the quantity and quality of food products.

The focus of the World Metrology Day for this year, 2023, is on many measurement challenges that must be addressed or handled to make the global food system function effectively, including, for example:

1. The quantity of food bought and sold is measured according to its mass or volume. These measurements range from the large volumes of grain and wheat traded internationally down to rapid online weighing measurements to ensure pre-packaged goods are labelled correctly.
2. The effective storage and packaging of food depends on the accurate control of the temperature and humidity of its storage environment to avoid change in the characteristics and specifications of the product during packaging, storage, transportation, marketing, and trading.
3. The quality and authenticity of food is determined by measuring its chemical composition. This requires measurements to ensure that it contains the levels specified in the product specifications of basic ingredients and additives and compare them with the origin of high-value foods or the technical requirements specified in the standard specifications and technical regulations.
4. It also requires measuring the percentage of pests and pesticide residues on agricultural food items and determining the rate of permissible additives used to manufacture many foodstuffs. Food safety is ensured through accurate measurement to detect the presence of chemical or biological contamination or pesticide residues.

There is no doubt that the depletion of natural resources and the impact of climate change pose an additional challenge to the global food system, so a general goal has been included in the sustainable development goals set by the United Nations concerned with a world without hunger and the right of all to have access to clean water.

Within the framework of the interest of the GSO to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it has taken the following initiatives:

• Issuing the GCC common Metrology Law, which aims at disseminating tranquility among the people through ensuring fairness in commercial transactions, improving the quality of products and industrial processes, including food products, protecting the health and safety of individuals, protecting the environment, and fighting cheating and fraud.
• Issuing (1326) Gulf standards and (568) Gulf technical regulations for food products and related production processes.
• Forming technical committees for food and agriculture products and 4 sub committees, halal specifications and services, and work is underway to form other committees and working groups.
• Issuing a guide for control procedures for pre-packaged packages, including food packages, to ensure that the quantities inside are correct.
• Forming a GULFMET technical committee for ionizing radiation measurements to ensure reliable measurements of radiation that food and agricultural materials may contain.

GSO has realized the importance of the safety and quality of food products, so it has developed GSO Standards and GSO Technical Regulations related to food products, materials, and production processes, and contributed to the establishment of a halal system for food products.

Additionally, GSO works closely with relevant international and regional organizations such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Health Organization, and the Codex Alimentarius Commission to enhance cooperation and coordination in the field of food product legislation and specifications and ensure their safety and quality.

On this occasion, I cannot but praise the great efforts made by staff who works in the field of metrology to provide reliable and credible measurements that recognized internationally and the staff in the field of standardization to provide standard specifications and technical regulations that are in line with international practices and keeping pace with the rapid developments in the field of metrology standardization, calling on all member states and the beneficiaries to benefit from the services provided by the GSO and invest that to promote  Metrology and standardization activities in their countries.

Finally, I ask God Almighty to help us and all those working in metrology activities in achieving the goals and aspirations of their countries to reach advanced levels in all standardization activities and to highlight the importance of these activities and their active role in all areas of life.

God grants success.

Walsalam Ealaykum Warahmat Allah Wabarakatuhu.