In the framework of the Egyptian – European partnership agreement with Industrial Modernization Programme in Egypt, that includes modernizing all the governmental bodies along with private and public sectors institutes, on quality activities and conformity assessment systems for increasing and raising the competitiveness of Egyptian products to conform with the international requirements, a ministerial decree no.263/2001 has been issued for forming the national team of conformity assessment to prepare the national quality plan under the presidency of Dr. Mahmoud Eisa, EOS President ,and the membership of Chemistry Administration President ,the Secretary-General of Egyptian  Accreditation Council (EGAC) and Industrial Control Authority President along with representatives of  ministries and organizations concerned with quality whether from public ,private or governmental sector .

The national quality plan has aimed at reinforcing the infrastructure of the Egyptian quality component represented in:

The structure of standards and quality systems in Egypt

Accreditation systems and body .

Consumer protection activities and developing the mechanisms of consumer awareness

The projects of the National Quality Plan have included the following fields :

 First : Granting conformity certificates for products and systems.

Certification bodies for quality and environmental management systems.

B.

Developing the concerned bodies with the activities of laboratory tests ,type tests ,manufacturing control and license systems for conformity and quality marks so as to achieve the international levels.

Inspection bodies.

Certification bodies for individuals.

Second       :labs sector:

Establishing national congregations for labs sectors and quality consultative offices .

Developing and accrediting metrology labs.

Developing and accrediting testing labs.

Conducting labs proficiency test.

Coordinating and regulating labs proficiency tests by a special unit that can be contracted ,evaluated and accredited.

Third      : Establishing the National Quality Institute (it is being established by EOS.

Fourth    : Reinforcing the Egyptian accreditation body .

Fifth       : Organizational structural changes to settle the regulations of a modern system for conformity assessment.

Sixth      : Governmental purchasing policy.

Seventh  : supporting EOS  to establish an organization for granting (CE Marking) according to the European directives.

The planned procedures for implementing the projects of national quality plan :

Awareness campaigns

Motivation plan

International harmonization for products 'standards

Establishing a society for quality experts from industry stakeholders in all axes related to quality including providing training for quality auditors.

Establishing a national certification body for quality systems.

Establishing a unit for decisions support.

Developing equipment.

Providing training for labs staff.

Establishing a network for labs along with an Egyptian association to take care of testing sector activities in Egypt.

Developing laboratory services and achieving the international accreditation for labs.

Promoting the advisory services sector for labs accreditation

Accrediting bodies concerned with conformity assessment.

National accreditation for inspection and certification bodies.

Developing proficiency of testing labs for labs qualification and accreditation.

Establishing an Egyptian accreditation body. For more information

EOS achievements in carrying out the programmes of national quality plan :

• The important developments in establishing the National Quality Institute (NQI)

EOS has established the NQI which is considered one of the most important projects scheduled in the national quality plan in Egypt due to its importance and its aims to raise awareness, publicizing and developing the concepts and culture of quality in Egypt.

The future vision of the institute:

Promoting quality to its highest levels complying with the international quality systems.

The objectives of NQI establishment:

Developing the individual and institutional capabilities in quality

Publicizing quality culture in both industrial and service societies.

The main activities of the NQI:

Carrying out the specialized training programmes in the fields of quality systems

Transferring information and technology related to quality to implement the most modern systems for productivity improvement.

Developing the capabilities in the fields and activities of conformity assessment.

Providing consultative services in quality systems

Establishing data bases for all fields' and activities of quality.

Carrying out awareness programmes for producers and consumers on quality and standards activities

Moreover, the NQI will act as an intermediate organization working with universities and other leading bodies in the field of local and international technology aiming at acquiring knowledge, transferring, adopting and selecting the best methods for applying quality and improving productivity in the industrial and service companies and institutes.

developing and promoting the network of the accredited Egyptian bodies working in the field of conformity assessment along with providing support for meetings, training activities, seminars and advisory services.

• The Egyptian standards harmonization project in all industrial sectors according to the international standards (3387 standards).

• Updating and developing the quality mark and conformity certificates guides to comply with the international guides.

• Establishing and initiating work in the National Quality Institute.

• Establishing a Consumer Protection Unit to coordinate with consumer protection units and control organizations.

• Organizing local and regional conferences and seminars for raising awareness.

• Accrediting some metrology labs of EOS.

• Proceeding with accrediting many testing labs of EOS.

• Qualifying the rest of metrology testing labs.