Doha, June 04 (QNA) - The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) has stressed the importance of complying with the updated Qatari Technical Regulation for the Storage Requirements of Passenger Car, Truck and Bus Tires, QS GSO 581:2021, issued pursuant to Decision No. (35) of 2026 by HE Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al-Thani.

The measure comes as part of the Ministry's efforts, in cooperation with the Qatar General Organization for Standards and Metrology, to develop technical regulations and standards in line with international best practices.

In a statement issued Thursday, the Ministry said that the technical regulation aims to enhance the safety of tires circulated in the local market by establishing precise requirements governing storage and handling operations, thereby helping preserve Tire quality and operational efficiency, reducing risks associated with improper storage, strengthening consumer protection, and raising road safety standards.

The statement added that the regulation applies to the storage requirements of passenger car, truck, and bus Tires and does not apply to Tires for bicycles, road equipment, or agricultural machinery.

It also includes a set of requirements related to the storage environment, including the need to store Tires in dry, well-ventilated areas at temperatures not exceeding 35°C, while protecting them from moisture condensation, direct sunlight, and ultraviolet radiation.

The regulation further prohibits the presence of ozone-generating equipment, such as electric motors and exposed fluorescent lamps, within storage areas, as well as chemicals, oils, or fuel near storage facilities. It also requires compliance with general safety requirements related to protection against fires and dust storms.

With regard to storage and handling procedures, the regulation stresses that Tires must be arranged in a manner that prevents exposure to pressure or tension that could result in permanent deformation. Priority must also be given to the withdrawal of older stock in order to minimise storage periods as much as possible.

The regulation outlines storage methods according to duration, whereby Tires stored for short periods not exceeding four weeks must be placed horizontally on wooden pallets, with stack heights not exceeding 2,000 mm.

For storage periods exceeding four weeks, Tires must be stored vertically on racks elevated at least 100 mm above the ground and rearranged monthly to prevent deformation.

The regulation also specifies a permitted sales period of 24 months from the date of manufacture for passenger car, bus, and light truck Tires, and 30 months for heavy truck Tires.

The sales period may be extended by an additional six months, provided that the dealer or manufacturer fulfills the approved requirements and controls, including submitting a manufacturer’s warranty confirming the Tire’s suitability for use for a minimum of five years under normal operating conditions, providing the consumer with a warranty of no less than one year, and fully complying with the storage requirements stipulated in the technical regulation.

MoCI stressed the need for all agents, distributors, and owners of Tire sales and storage outlets to comply with the provisions of the technical regulation, in order to preserve Tire quality and ensure consumer safety.

It affirmed that adherence to the approved requirements and controls constitutes a fundamental responsibility to ensure the circulation of products that meet the highest standards adopted in the State and to avoid legal action against violators. (QNA)