The Saudi Aramco Research and Development Center (RED) recently expanded its ISO 17025 accreditation from 22 to 49 analytical and testing methods, now becoming the benchmark for accredited laboratories in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). ISO 17025 is an international quality management standard for analytical and testing laboratories. ISO 17025 accreditation also plays an important role in the global economy. It is encouraged by the World Trade Organization (WTO), of which Saudi Arabia has been a member since December 2005. As a leader in the field, R&D Center recently organized a roundtable discussion titled, “Networking the ISO 17025 Accredited Laboratories in Saudi Arabia - Opportunities and Challenges.” The roundtable gathering also was the venue as Dr. Kurt Ziegler, executive director and head of the German Accreditation and Testing Services Co., presented R&D Center manager Dr. Omar S. Abdul-Hamid with the ISO 17025 accreditation certificate. --MORE
