JEDDAH: Issues and problems with the ISO 9001 certificate of quality were discussed Monday at the first session of the Third National Quality Conference, which is being held in Jeddah at King Abdul Aziz University. Dr. Mahmood Eissa, president of National Quality Institute in Egypt, said the certificate is only valid for three years and that some companies falsely claim to have it. “Unfortunately, in the Arab world, some companies put the logo of ISO 9001 on their products although they don't have the official certificate,” he said. He added that the certificate of European quality only means that the product meets standards in European markets, not in Asia, Africa or Arab countries. Dr. Eissa, who also discussed the certification of management systems to protect the environment from the pollution, pointed out that companies must pass tests and inspections before they can display the certificates. “ISO is only responsible for issuing the international standards specifications and other establishments are responsible for issuing the certificates based on their exams and inspections,” he said. Some qualifications for earning management service certification are optional, he added.
