As part of its strategy to reinforce global leadership in healthcare regulation, Saudi Arabia has taken a bold step with an appointment that strengthens its international presence in the healthcare sphere.
The Kingdom has been selected to lead the ISO/TC 357 technical committee responsible for developing international standards for wound dressings and wound compresses.
By chairing this committee, the Kingdom becomes the first country in the region to assume its leadership.
What Role Will Saudi Arabia Play?
This milestone positions the Kingdom at the forefront of defining international benchmarks for the safety, quality, and performance of wound care products.
Saudi Arabia’s appointment marks the culmination of close collaboration between the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), whose combined efforts paved the way for the Kingdom’s leadership of the International Organization for Standardization’s (ISO) newest technical committee.
Represented by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), the Kingdom will lead the committee’s technical work, overseeing the development of international standards for wound dressings and wound compresses.
To ensure a globally consistent framework, these standards will define terminology and outline requirements for product safety, performance, testing methods, and quality control.
How Did Saudi Arabia Secure the Approval?
Responding to the lack of unified international standards in the field, the SFDA proposed establishing the committee. Subsequently, the SASO coordinated the technical and procedural processes with ISO and national standards bodies worldwide, paving the way for its approval.
Following an extensive ISO review as well as evaluations by specialized committees and the Technical Management Board (ISO/TMB), Saudi proposal successfully met the organization’s technical and regulatory requirements.
Winning Global Confidence
As a testament to broad global confidence in the initiative, the committee’s establishment received overwhelming support.
The Saudi proposal secured affirmative votes from 27 countries, with 13 joining as participants and 21 as observers, drawing many of the world’s leading experts in standardization.
By securing this leadership, Saudi Arabia is unfolding a new chapter; one in which it shapes international standards rather than merely adopting them. This milestone underscores the Kingdom’s expanding footprint in global standardization, crystallizing international confidence in its technical expertise, commitment to quality, and regulatory excellence.
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