Muscat – The Ministerial Decision No. 3/2025 introduces a comprehensive governance regulation for such laboratories. It targets a wide range of entities, including those planning to establish new laboratories, existing testing or calibration laboratories, and those engaged in measurement and calibration activities. It also applies to both affiliated and independent institutions that operate such laboratories.

According to the regulation, testing and calibration laboratories are now required to comply with international standards, specifically ISO/IEC 17025, which governs the competence of testing and calibration laboratories globally. The regulation specifies licensing and operational requirements for these laboratories, ensuring that they operate with the highest level of technical and organizational competence.

The Accreditation Office at the Directorate General for Standards and Metrology is designated as the competent authority overseeing the regulation’s implementation and ensuring compliance with its provisions.

Key features:
• Regulation of the establishment and operation of testing and calibration laboratories
• Specification of licensing and operational requirements
• Ensuring compliance with international standards (17025 ISO/IEC)
• Enhancement of technical and organizational competence
• Consumer protection
The regulation also outlines the obligations of licensees, oversight and inspection processes, as well as administrative penalties for non-compliance.