In applying the provisions of this Decree-Law, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings assigned to each of them, unless the context otherwise requires: State: The United Arab Emirates. Ministry: The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology. Minister: The Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology. Concerned Authorities: The federal or local government entities concerned with standards, metrology, calibration, accreditation and conformity affairs. Measuring Instruments: Machines, tools and devices intended for measurement, including direct measures such as scales, measures, lengths and reference units, and indirect measures such as thermometers, pressure gauges, water and electricity meters and others. Laboratory: The entity that performs testing and calibration. Calibration: Operations conducted to determine and control the efficiency and accuracy of measuring instruments and devices. Standard Specification: A document specifying the characteristics or descriptions of a commodity, product, material, service or anything subject to measurement, its characteristics, quality level, dimensions, measures or safety and security requirements; it also includes terminology, symbols, test methods, sampling, packaging, labels and marks. Approved Standard Specifications: Specifications approved by the Ministry, referred to as Standard Specifications of the United Arab Emirates and symbolised by (UAE.S). Technical Regulation: A Cabinet resolution specifying technical requirements, directly or by reference or incorporation, for the contents of a standard specification, technical specification or practice, which are mandatory. Mark: Any drawing, sign, symbol, stamp, inscription or image indicating the Ministry or anything it issues concerning standards, metrology, quality and conformity, or indicating any international entity connected with standards, metrology, quality and conformity. Conformity Assessment: Any activity used directly or indirectly to verify that a commodity, product, material or service satisfies the relevant technical requirements. Conformity Assessment Bodies: An entity registered, accredited or accepted by the Ministry to carry out conformity-assessment procedures, including testing and calibration laboratories, inspection bodies, proficiency-testing bodies and bodies granting certificates for systems, persons or products, excluding medical laboratories, research and development laboratories, and laboratories used for personal, training or educational purposes.
Interpretation and application must be checked against the official text and current version.