G/TBT/W/417/Rev.1  
 
10 July 2015  
(15-3565)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
  PROPOSAL ON THE RECOGNITION AND ACCEPTANCE OF  
CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT RESULTS  
SEVENTH TRIENNIAL REVIEW 
Submission from the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu 
Revision 
The following submission, dated 9 July 2015, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the Separate Customs Territo ry of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. 
 
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On the occasion of the Seventh Triennial Review of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to 
Trade (TBT Agreement), the Separate Customs Te rritory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu 
proposes, as part of the review on the topic of Conformity Assessment, to extend information 
exchange on mechanisms in facilitating the recogn ition and acceptance of the results of conformity 
assessment, with special focus on the experien ces in Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs). 
1  INTRODUCTION 
1.1.  The TBT Agreement puts much emphasis on  regulating conformity assessment procedures. 
While it is recognized that conformity assessmen t procedures are key elements on ensuring the 
implementation of legitimate policy objectives, including safeguarding consumers' safety and 
protecting the environment, they can also create unnecessary obstacles to international trade.  
1.2.  The burden on Small-and-Medium Enterprises (SME) exporters is particularly significant. The 
results of a recent industrial survey undertake n by the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, 
Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu show that major issues concerning conformity assessment procedures 
in foreign markets faced by SMEs in the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen 
and Matsu include, inter alia , uncertainties over the time and costs to complete the procedures, 
difficulties in comprehending regulations on the conformity assessment procedures. These 
uncertainties create extra costs on SME exporters who in many cases use a rapid turnover rate of 
goods to remain competitive. It indicates that a mechanism to reduce or remove unnecessary duplication of conformity assessment would further encourage SMEs' participation in global trade.  
2  PREVIOUS WORKS ON THE RECOGNITION AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE RESULTS OF 
CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT 
2.1.  In the First Triennial Review of the TB T Agreement in 1997 (G/TBT/5), the Committee agreed 
to review the operation of recognition of th e results of conformity assessment procedures. 
Members are invited, on a voluntary basis, to ex change information and share possible difficulties 
and problems associated with Mutual Recognitio n Agreements (MRAs). It is followed by the 
indicative list describing different approaches to facilitate acceptance of results of conformity 
assessment (the Indicative List) developed by the Committee in the Second Triennial Review 
(G/TBT/9). Approaches in the Indicative List include MRAs, cooperative arrangements between domestic and foreign conformity assessment bodies in the voluntary sector, the use of accreditation to qualify conformity assessment bodies, government designation, unilateral G/TBT/W/417/Rev.1 
 
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  recognition of results of foreign conformity assessment and manufacturer's/supplier's declarations 
(SDoC). 
2.2.  In the Fourth Triennial Review in 2009 (G/TBT/26), the Committee agreed to continue to 
exchange information on different approaches and to initiate work on developing practical 
guidelines on how to facilitate the acceptance of conformity assessment results. Further, as part of 
the last Triennial Review (G/TBT/32), Members are encouraged to continue exchange of information on approaches that may facilitate the acceptance of conformity assessment results to 
build on the Indicative List.  
2.3.  In 2013, international and regional accreditation institutions, namely IAF and ILAC, were also 
invited by the TBT Committee to share their achi evements in promoting mutual cooperation and 
recognition between Members in the area of laboratory accreditation.  
3  DEVELOPMENT IN PTAS AND OTHER FORA 
3.1.  As the TBT Committee continues the discussions on developing practical guidelines regarding 
the acceptance of conformity assessment results, th ere is an increasing number of PTAs that have 
moved forward with new approaches in recognit ion and acceptance of conformity assessment 
results.  
3.2.  While still building on the approaches includ ed in the Indicative List, additional elements of 
PTAs, as far as the recognition and acceptance of conformity assessment results are concerned, 
include: 1) identifying priority sectors in pursuing  mutual recognition and acceptance of conformity 
assessment results; 2) the phase-in of SDoC regime s on specific product items; 3) the adoption of 
transition arrangements in introducing new regimes; and 4) exceptions to the recognition and 
acceptance of conformity assessment results. 
3.3.  Mutual recognition arrangements in the area of laboratory accreditation at international and 
regional levels also attract participation from an increasing number of accreditation bodies from 
WTO Members.  
3.4.  Lessons drawn from these additional arrangements in PTAs and other international/regional 
mechanisms would serve as the possible building blocks for the Committee to consider and 
develop practical guidelines on how to choose and design efficient and effective mechanisms in 
facilitating the acceptance of conformity assessment results. In particular, as the recognition and acceptance of conformity assessment results often requires mutual confidence in the conformity 
assessment regimes, as well as the introduction of appropriate post-market surveillance and 
regulatory undertakings, experiences in PTAs and other international/regional mechanisms 
regarding the choice of products , and the cons ideration and design of supporting regulatory 
measures in addressing policy concerns are valuable inputs in facilitating discussion on the topic of 
conformity assessment. 
4  PROPOSALS  4.1.  In light of the new developments discusse d, the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, 
Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu proposes that the TBT Committee, with the view of developing 
practical guidelines on the choice and design of efficient and effective mechanisms in facilitating the acceptance of conformity assessment results, intensify exchange of information on the recent 
developments of PTAs and other international/re gional mechanisms regarding the recognition and 
acceptance of conformity assessment results. More  specifically, as part of the Seventh Triennial 
Review, the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu proposes to organize thematic discussions on experiences in PTAs and other international/regional mechanisms 
relating to the sectoral and sequential approaches, accreditation of laboratories and other essential 
supporting measures in the recognition and acceptance of conformity assessment results. 
 
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