Mutual recognition arrangement on conformity assessment of electrical and electronic equipment: its implications in reducing Technical Barriers to Trade

Carolina Vasquez Muñoz

TBT Sub-Department

GeneralDirectorate ofInternationalEconomic Affairs

Direcon | Ministry of Foreign Affairs

APEC Electrical and Electronic Equipment Mutual Recognition Arrangement (EEMRA)

• In 1997, an ad hoc Expert Working Group of the Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance (SCSC) began work on the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Mutual Recognition Agreement (EE MRA).

• The text of the arrangement was concluded and endorsed by the Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance (SCSC) in August 1999 at Rotorua, New Zealand.

• Participation in the arrangement began in 2000 when 10 APEC Member Economies signaled their intention to take part in the exchange of information.

Direcon | Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Parts of the EE MRA• Part I: Information interchange:

• Information about a participating APEC Member Economy's mandatory

requirements on regulated electrical and electronic products.

• Members of part I:

Australia 2006 Malaysia 2006

Brunei Darussalam 2006 New Zealand 2006

Chile 2007 Papua New Guinea

China 2006 Philippines 2006

Hong Kong, China 2007 Russia

Indonesia 2006 Singapore 2007

Japan 2007 Chinese Taipei 2007

Korea 2006         Thailand 2008  

Viet Nam 2006

Direcon | Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Parts of the EE MRA• Part I: Information interchange:

Information Interchange Format include:

• Regime Overview

• Legislative References– Products requiring inspection – Products requiring licensing – Products requiring batch testing – Products requiring approval (or certification) – Products requiring listing or registration – Supplier declarations – Essential safety requirements

• Description of the Regime– Testing Facilities– Approval (Certification) Agencies

• Labelling Requirements

• Regulatory and Legislation Requirements

Direcon | Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Parts of the EE MRA• Part II: Acceptance of test reports :

• Part II of the MRA commits participating APEC Member Economies to mutually accept test reports produced by testing facilities designated by participating economies in accordance with the designation requirements of the EE MRA. (in accordance with the relevant ISO/IEC Standards and do not require re-testing).

• Members of part II

Australia

Brunei Darussalam

Malaysia

New Zealand

Singapore

Direcon | Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Parts of the EE MRA

• Part III: Acceptance of certification

• Part III commits a participating importing APEC economy to accept product certification (including batch testing) produced by certification bodies designated by participating exporting economies in accordance with the designation requirements of the EE MRA. The designation requirements are in accordance with the relevant ISO/IEC Guide.

• Members of part III

Australia

Brunei Darussalam

New Zealand

Singapore

Direcon | Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Implications of the EEMRA

• The EE MRA is intended to apply to all instances (pre- and post-market), where test reports or certification are used.

• For regulators, the EE MRA ensures that comprehensive information relating to member economies' regulatory regimes are available to manufacturers, thereby improving compliance with regulatory requirements.

• For manufacturers, the EE MRA allows product development, testing, certification, inspection and approval to be obtained within the manufacturers' economy thereby reducing 'time to market,' testing and certification costs.

Direcon | Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Implications of the EEMRA

• Harmonization of standards, particularly those applying to electrical and electronic equipment

• Harmonization of the accreditation of testing and certification systems

• Promotion of good regulatory practice.

Trade Facilitation

Direcon | Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Benefits and CostBenefits:

• Reduce cost of business through mutual recognition of testing requirements;

• Reduce the impact of regulatory infrastructures particularly those relating to pre-market testing, certification, inspection and approval; and

• Promote better information sharing of regulatory regimes in the region.

• Improve safety and facilitate trade in electrical and electronic products;

• Assist in market expansion, particularly to APEC economies signatory to APEC EEMRA

• Promote greater regulatory harmonization and lesser negotiation process.

Direcon | Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Benefits and Cost

Costs:

• Regulatory changes

• Adaptation period

• Fears and resistance inside the country

Direcon | Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Challenges for Chile

• Amendment of regulation for electrical products.

• Incorporation to the CB Scheme.

• Need to work together with companies and testing laboratories.

• To Work to lower the resistance to change and the participation in Mutual Recognition Agreement

Direcon | Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Joint Regulatory Advisory Committee (JRAC)

• JRAC reflects a greater regulatory focus

• JRAC will now promote greater regulator to regulator dialogue and cooperation

• JRAC will also facilitate the APEC EE MRA

• In accordance with APEC rules and guidelines, JRAC will operate on consensus basis

THANK YOU; GRACIAS; MERCI

Carolina Vasquez Muñoz

TBT Sub-Department

GeneralDirectorate ofInternationalEconomic Affairs