Giuseppe Casella Directorate General for Enterprise ... - Sofofa

European Commission
Enterprise Directorate General
EC policy in the fields of standards &
conformity assessment:
the international dimension
a “Toolbox” of instruments
Giuseppe CASELLA
European Commission - Enterprise Directorate General

Standards & Conformity: the international dimension
a “Toolbox” of instruments
Consistency of objectives
- Within the European Union:
To complete the Single Market
• ensuring free circulation of products
• enhancing safety and performance of products
• offering a flexible “technology-neutral” legal
environment
• reducing the burdens for enterprises
2

Standards & Conformity: the international dimension
a “Toolbox” of instruments
Consistency of objectives
- In the International Scene:
To promote trade
• prevent and reduce the effect of regulatory /
technical barriers
• support harmonization
• promote EU regulatory approach
3

Standards & Conformity: the international dimension
a “Toolbox” of instruments
Legal basis / General principles:
• art. 133 of the Treaty
• Communication from the Commission on
the Community External Trade Policy in the
fields of Standards and Conformity
Assessment:
COM(1996) 564 final of 13.11.1996 available at:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/international/indexb1.htm
4

Standards & Conformity: the international dimension
a “Toolbox” of instruments
Four Fold Strategy:
• Support to WTO-TBT Agreement
• Bilateral Agreements - Government level
• Regulatory co-operation
• Technical Assistance
5

Standards & Conformity: the international dimension
a “Toolbox” of instruments
“Toolbox” of instruments
OBJECTIVE:
Describe and provide an indicative list of
tools for addressing regulatory issues
IMPORTANT NOTE: the document suggest measures that
might be appropriate in each case; it is not exhaustive and
the correlations set out are not mutually exclusive
6

Standards & Conformity: the international dimension
a “Toolbox” of instruments
“Toolbox” of instruments: examples
Issues
Some tools
1. Compatibility of approach - Regulatory co-operation
2. Coherence of regulation - Harmonization of legislation
- International regulation
- Recognition of equivalence
3. Coherence of standards - Harmonisation of standards
- International standardisation
- Recognition of equivalence
7

Standards & Conformity: the international dimension
a “Toolbox” of instruments
“Toolbox” of instruments: examples
Issues
Some tools
4. Transparency and - Harmonisation
impartiality of regulations - International regulation and
and standards
standardisation
- Recognition of equivalence
5. Appropriate level of regulation - Regulatory co-operation
6. Transparency and impartiality - MRAs
in obtaining certification - Technical assistance
8

Standards & Conformity: the international dimension
a “Toolbox” of instruments
“Toolbox” of instruments: examples
Issues
Some tools
7. Recognition of certificates - MRAs
8. Compatibility of market - Regulatory co-operation
surveillance
- Technical assistance
9. Development of infrastructure - Technical assistance
9

Standards & Conformity: the international
dimension
a “Toolbox” of instruments
• Regulatory co-operation
• Harmonisation
• Recognition of equivalence
• Mutual Recognition Agreements
• Partial, voluntary, reduced or less formal types of
mutual recognition
• International standardisation
• Technical assistance
10

Standards & Conformity: the international dimension
a “Toolbox” of instruments
• Harmonisation: draw-up common rules
(ex.: EU, IMO)
• Recognition of Equivalence: different regulations,
same objectives (ex.: EU-US marine safety
equipment agreement)
• Mutual Recognition Agreements: recognition of
results of conformity assessment
• Voluntary Agreements: subcontracting, cooperation
of laboratories.
11

Standards & Conformity: the international dimension
a “Toolbox” of instruments
For more information:
Commission staff Working Paper :
Implementing policy for External Trade
in the field of standards & conformity
assessment: a Toolbox of instruments
SEC (2001) 1570 of 28.9.2001
available at:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/international/sec_2001_1570_en.pdf
12