G/TBT/GEN/270  
8 November  2019 
(19-7587) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
ARGENTINA: NEW NATIO NAL QUALITY SYSTEM  
LINKAGE WITH THE TEC HNICAL REGULATORS AN D CONFORMITY ASSESSM ENT 
Communication from Argentina  
The following communication , dated 6 November 2019,  is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Argentina . 
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"Regulatory Strategy of the Argentine Republic . The new National Quality Syste m – the 
role of the Technical Regulators Commission and the harmonization of conformity 
asses sment procedures . Presentation on Argentina's experience in the use of 
international standards as a tool to access international markets ." 
The promotion of quality in goods and services is part of the process of transformation that ensur es 
a highly competent  and skilled productive environment . In this context, quality  enhancement  is an 
indispensable condition for a level of industrial modernization that is line with the current patterns 
of technology and management.  
In Argentina, t he compone nts of the National Quality System  (SNC) were shaped  in 1994  and an 
operational structure was established by  Decree No. 1474/1994 . Over the years  however  the lack 
of effective coordination among  the SNC actors began to narrow the prospects for the developm ent 
of a national policy on quality.  
As defined, the SNC not only provided poor interaction among the personnel  responsible for quality 
at the national level,  but it was also evident that there was  a lack of strategic guidelines to steer the 
work of these institutions in a common directio n. Consequen tly, those responsible for normalization, 
accreditation, metrology and  conformity assessment bodies performed  with a  disjointed  approach 
that was at odd s with the productive strategy.  
Although the progress  achieved made it po ssible for the quality standards of local production and  
domestic markets to rise, the lack of guidance and coordination  in some cases  led to the 
implementation of local technical req uirements that fell far short of  international standards , 
limitations on  testing  capacities , under -utilization of the quality infrastructure, a deficit in 
complementarity among  public networks of  laboratories , and to situations in which the degree of 
stringency in conformity assessment  processes  varied significantly among regulatory bodies 
themselves.  
It was against this background  in November 2 018, in response to the se limitations , that Decree 
No. 1066/18 set the revival of the SNC in Argentina in motion . This step revitalized  the National 
Quality Council as a  body for articulation between Ministries , to oversee the coordinated functioning  
of the system, and to define strategic guidelines for the policy on quality . Moreover, the  Decree 
created the Technical  Regulators Commission  (CRT)  as an interministerial body for cooperation 
between the various domestic regulators . G/TBT/GEN/270  
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  1  BACKGROUND  
1.1.  The first steps that gave evidence  of a new regulatory environment in Argentina emerged within 
the framework of the Ministry of Production  (and Labour) , which, from 2016 , began to implement a 
series of measures to improve the application of technical regulations  (TR) and conformity 
assessment procedures  (PEC)  for the benefit of  a predictable, participatory and transparent process . 
1.2.   The Directorate of Technical Regulations and Quality Promotion  was set up  within the  
Secretariat  of Domestic Trade  to focus on the drafting and review of technical regulations for a wide 
range of manufactured goods.  
The main responsibility of the Directorate : to develop and propose the application of 
technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures under the WTO Agreement 
on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) for all aspects of the work within the jurisdiction of 
the Minist ry of Production . 
1.3.  Under this unit, by virtue of Resoluti on No. 299/2018 , the formal process for the preparation, 
review and adoption of technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures  to be applied to 
work of the Minist ry of Production and its  autonomous and decentralized bodies  aligned with 
internat ionally recognized practice , was institutionalized.  
1.4.  In keeping  with this new vision, the Ministry of Production  later update d the procedure 
establishing the rules for certification  bodies,  inspection bodies and test ing laboratories, whose work 
contribute directly to the procedures for  the conformity assessment of technical regulations 
(Resolution No. 262/2019).  
1.5.  The new procedure, updated after 20 years, empowered  the implementing authorit y to add to 
the technical regula tions the acceptance of test reports issued by technical bodies located  abroad 
and belonging to  an accreditation body signatory to the Multilateral Recognitio n Arrangement , of 
which the Argentine Accreditation Agency  (OAA) is a member . 
1.6.  Simultaneously , the OA A promoted the  dissemination  of accreditation mechanisms among the 
various regulators with mandat ory cert ification system s. 
1.7.  All these measures paved the way for  strengthening links between various actors engaged in 
the National Qualit y System  and culminated in its relaunch in November 2 018. 
2  WHY IS THERE NEED FO R A TECHNICAL REGULA TORS COMMISSION?  
2.1.  As mentioned , in Argentina there are various bodies with competence to issue technical  
regulations , conformity assessment procedures and sanitary and phytosanitary measures . Each of 
these units regulate s products through binding administrative acts . 
2.2.  The absence of a centre for coordination within the National Quality System  led to fragmented 
implementation at the regulatory l evel, creating multiple subsystems both in terms of rules to be 
complied with – with the resulting risk of regulatory overlap  – actors involved  and quality 
infrastructure.  
2.3.  In this regard , as an interministerial forum, the CRT has a mission to promote dialogue between 
the regulatory bodies  for the purpose of encouraging good regulatory practice and to coordinate 
joint actions that ensure  optimal effectiveness . In the context of this objectiv e, the main challenge 
for the CRT is to strengthen its position  as the focal point  for cooperation between the various 
regulators at the national level.  G/TBT/GEN/270  
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  3  MAIN FUNCTIONS  
3.1.  As defined  under  Decree No. 1066/18, by which its constitution is defined, the main functions 
of the CRT are as follows:  
a. Strengthen national regulatory dialogue , make recommendations, for mutual 
understanding  of their respective systems, and develop activities and cooperation 
measures for regulatory bodies.  
b. Promote the use of Good Regulat ory Practice : overseeing its implementation , assisting 
various regulatory bodies with implementation  through recommendations,  and fostering 
common understanding of the concepts and terminology.  
c. Compile an Annual Regulatory Plan, consisting  of input from th e regulatory programmes 
of CRT members . 
d. Promote reference  to domestic and international technical  standard s, and the adoption of 
conformity assessment procedures in the SNC  in the regulations of CRT members.  
e. Promote the use of the SNC infrastructure in the conformity assessment procedures of 
CRT members.  
4  2019 PLAN OF ACTION: THE ROAD AHEAD  
4.1.  In 2018, the members of the CRT held informal exchanges which they  drafted a s a joint work 
programme for the first stage in 2019.  
4.2.  The 2019 action pla n highlight s lines of action related to cross -cutting themes under the 
Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary 
and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) . 
4.3.  In this first stage , and  focusing on institution building, specific challenges related to joint 
actions for the standardization of processes, best regulatory practices , deepening of knowledge and 
implemen tation in accordance with both Agreements were undertaken.  
4.4.  To that end, Working Groups (WG) for regulators were organized, stressing competitiveness  in 
each case, notably:  
• WG1 : Good Regulatory Practice;  
• WG 2: Domestic Regulation ; 
• WG 3: Map of Regulatory Bodies ; 
• WG 4: Recognitio n of Technical Bodies ; 
• WG 5: Annual Regulatory Plan ; 
• WG 6: Training Programm e; 
• WG 7: Market Surveillance . 
4.5.  It is worth mentioning one of the expected outcomes, which is the implementation of a Manual 
on Good Regulatory Practice, in line with the World Trade Organization (WTO) recommendation and 
which  will contribute positively to achieving greater transparency and efficiency in regulat ory 
regimes . 
4.6.  Furthermore , the line of action that centres on planning of the regulatory activity through the 
Annual Regulatory Plan will enable the strategic development of a supportive quality infrastructure, G/TBT/GEN/270  
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  enhance market predic tability and facilitate  cooperation on the development of comprehensive joint 
regulat ions. 
4.7.  From the explanations given above, it can be concluded that the strengthening of the work 
carried out by the CRT will lead to regulatory activity that is better coordinated, effic ient and in line 
with international practices.  
5  QUALITY INFRASTRUCTU RE AND THE USE OF IN TERNATIONAL NETWORKS  
5.1.  In this entire process, the quality infrastructure necessary for the correct implementation of 
each of the working groups serves as a strategic pillar, from which the CRT approaches subsequent 
challenges . 
5.2.  The 2020  Plan of Action will therefore adopt the following objectives as its main themes:  
• Reinforcement , development and expansion of the quality infra structur e through a national  
survey of the existing quality infrastructure and the execution of a plan for the accreditation 
of 100 strategic laboratories . A financing  facility for the processes for the accred itation of 
laboratories , certification  bodies and inspection bodies is currently in place in the Ministry of 
Production.  
• Increase in the use of international standard s as a bas is for the regulatory process and its link 
to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation/International Accreditation Forum 
(ILAC/IAF) Network . Accredita tion of the domestic quality infrastructur e with projections for 
penetrating the international  markets.  
5.3.  These strategic lines are based on the positive  results that the Min istry of Production has had 
within the Directorate of Technical Regulations and Quality Promotion . The Directorate had been 
established as the focal point  of initial application at the local level for improv ing the implementation 
of good regulatory practice and for strengthening the quality infrastructure by incorporating  regional 
bodies and international networks of accreditation . 
5.4.  It is expected  that through the CRT,  synergy  will be created to extend the quality process  to 
include  the other regulators.  As mentioned, the visi on of achieving the expansi on of the quality 
infrastructure through international networks is one of the basic pillars of work for Argentina in the 
coming years.  
Contact information : 
Matias Bernocco  
mbernocco@produccion.gob.ar  
reglamentos@produccion.gob.ar  
Tel. +54 11 4349 -3974/3994  
 
Directorate of Technical Regulations and Quality Promotion  
Secretaria t of Domestic Trade  
Minist ry of Production and Labour  
https://www.argentina.gob.ar/proponer -reglamentos -tecnicos  
 
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