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Session:

1D - Metrology sans frontieres 

Date & Time:

Monday August 7, 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM

Paper Title:

Enhancing Trade Facilitation and Market Access through International MAS-Q Recognition 

 

 

Speaker:

Edward Nemeroff, Director  

CoAuthors:

Speaker Info

Company:

EN Industries

Address:

934 Tacoma Drive
Auburn, AL, 36830, United States

Phone:

772-475-4176

Email:

ednemeroff@cs.com 

 

 

Abstract:

Trade is the crucial driver for economic growth in developing countries. In seeking to expand international trade, it is virtually impossible to underestimate the importance of adopting and implementing international practices in the area of metrology, accreditation, standardization and certification (MAS-Q), as they provide a vital link to global trade, market access and export competitiveness. In view of the ever increasing globalization of trade and investment and the widespread adoption of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other regional trade agreements such as in the European Union, rules on non-tariff trade barriers, adopting and implementing these approaches has become a central political task for many countries as well as an enormous challenge. Mutual recognition of accreditation and certification activities facilitate access to international markets; provide the technical underpinning to international trade by promoting cross-border stakeholder confidence and acceptance of accredited test data and certified results. This is made possible through a network of mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs) among international accreditation bodies. One of the main challenges facing the international trading system is the diverse conformity assessment practices and approaches that persist in different countries. Conformity assessment has become an important component of world trade. At its simplest, "conformity assessment" means providing assurance that products, materials, services, systems or people conform to specified requirements (technical regulations, standards, etc.). Unless trading partners adhere to identical or equivalent conformity assessment procedures and requirements, or recognize each other's conformity assessment results, then the costly problem of discriminatory, non-transparent and unnecessary obstacles to trade will persist. Conformity assessment is the internationally recognized procedure for demonstrating that specified requirements relating to a product, process, system, person or body are fulfilled, thus determining compliance. Conformity assessment activities include: testing, inspection, certification and accreditation. Developing countries and countries making the transition from a centralized to a market economy make up some three quarters of ISO's membership and similar numbers for the WTO. For them, standards and conformity assessment are an important source of technological know-how for developing their economy and raising their capability to export and compete on global markets.  

 

 

 

 

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