STANDARDS AND CONFORMANCE 2004 COLLECTIVE ACTION PLAN

 

OAA Objectives

Actions

Time frame

1.   Alignment

Align APEC economies' domestic standards with international standards.

·          Member economies to align their standards with international standards in the following priority areas: electrical and electronic appliances (air conditioners, televisions, refrigerators, radios and their parts and video apparatus); food labeling; rubber gloves and condoms; and machinery.

1996 to 2000/2005

 

 

·          Member economies to align their standards with international standards in the additional priority area of electrical and electronic equipment to include all electrical safety (IEC 60335) and relevant EMC (CISPR) standards.

 

1998 to 2004/2008

 

·          Member economies to align their standards with international standards in the additional priority area related to safety of information technology equipment (IEC 60950 standard).

·          Member economies to align their standards with international standards in the additional priority areas related to standards and guides on conformity assessment and management systems.

 

2000 to 2004/2008

 

 

2000 to 2002/2005

 

·          The SCSC to continue identifying additional priority areas for alignment with international standards.

 

From 1997

 

·          Member economies to actively participate in the standardization activities of international standardization bodies (ISO & IEC) in the following priority sectors: building and construction and hazardous area equipment.

 

From 1996

 

·          Member economies to participate in ad-hoc technical groups, which work with PASC in developing coordinated regional input into the development of international standards in selected areas.

 

From 1997

 

 

·          Member Economies to exchange information about performance-based regulations

 

From 2002

 

·          Member economies to promote the use of the Principles and Features of Good Practice for Technical Regulation to be used on a voluntary basis.

 

From 2001

 

·          Member economies to update and promote the use of Information Notes on Good Practice for Technical Regulations.

 

 From 2001

 

·          The SCSC to continue to investigate means of enhancing regulatory practices in the APEC region through a program of case studies and seminars.

 

From 2000

 

·          The SCSC to conduct comprehensive reviews of their alignment work.

 

2005

 

·          Member economies to update each year the results in their respective alignment plans. These will be placed on the APEC Secretariat’s homepage.

From 1998

 

·          Member economies to continue to report on the progress in aligning their standards with international standards

 

From 1998

 

·          Member economies to review and update their alignment work having consultations with business: ABAC and SME

 

From 2003

2. Recognition of Conformity Assessment

Achieve recognition of conformity assessment including mutual recognition arrangements in regulated and voluntary sectors.

Regulated sector:

·          Member economies to develop recognition arrangements of conformity assessment including bilateral, multi-sectoral, and plurilateral mutual recognition arrangements.

 

From 1997

 

 

·          Member economies to consider participation in the Arrangement for the Exchange of Information on Toy Safety and encourage the involvement of their regulators.

From 1996

(16 economies)

 

·          Member economies to consider participation in the APEC Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Conformity Assessment of Foods and Food Products.

From 1997

(7economies)

 

·          Member economies to consider participation in the Sectoral Arrangement of APEC Food MRA.

From 2003

 

·          Member economies to consider participation in Part I of the APEC Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Conformity Assessment of Electrical and Electronic Equipment through providing information in the agreed common format. 

From 2000 (15 economies in Part I) (3 economies in Part II and Part III, subject to change)

 

·          Member economies to consider participation in further Parts of the MRA and encourage the involvement of their regulators.

From 2000

 

 

·          Member economies to consider participation in the APEC Arrangement for the Exchange of Information on Food Recalls.

From 1999
(2 economies)

 

·          The SCSC to review the implementation and use of the mutual recognition arrangements.

 

From 1998

 

·          The SCSC to continue to further consider additional priority areas for MRA in the regulated sector.

 

From 1997

 

·          The SCSC to consider alternative mechanisms to facilitate the recognition of conformity assessment results.

 

From 1999

 

·          The SCSC to review and improve the effectiveness of the APEC MRA on Conformity Assessment of Foods and Food Products; the Arrangement for the Exchange of Information on Toy Safety; the APEC Arrangement for the Exchange of Information on Food Recalls; and  the APEC MRA on Conformity Assessment of Electrical and Electronic Equipment. 

From 2001

 

·          Member economies to implement the program on trade facilitation in information technology products which has been developed in collaboration with the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI).

2000 to 2005/2008

 

·          Member economies to consider participation in a pilot of the DeclareNet.

From 2001

 

·          The SCSC asked the Working Group on Information Technology Management Systems for the APEC MRAs to liaise with interested parties and report back

From 2002

 

·          The SCSC also suggested that the Chairs of the APEC-TEL and EEMRA-JAC should meet with a view to working more closely together, particularly with respect to the application of IT systems to the MRA’s.

From 2003

 

Voluntary sector:

 

 

·          Member economies to enter into mutual recognition agreements (bilateral and multilateral) in cooperation with Specialist Regional Bodies, where applicable.

1996 to 2000/2005

 

·          Member economies to encourage participation in APLAC-MRA ,PAC MLAs and CIPM Global MRA.

 

From 1998

3.   Technical Infrastructure Development

Promote cooperation for technical infrastructure development to facilitate broad participation in mutual recognition arrangements in both regulated and voluntary sectors.

·          Member economies to identify specific requirements, assistance and/or activities for technical infrastructure development.

From 1996

·          Member economies to consider the provision of assistance for the improvement of other economies’ technical infrastructure.

From 1996

 

·          The SCSC to undertake the following technical infrastructure projects:

-          Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) Readiness Project in Product Certification;

-          Training Risk Assessment in Support of Food Safety Measures;

-          Training on Testing on Calibration Laboratory Assessment;

-          APEC/PASC Training Programs on Adoption of International Standards;

-          Survey of Accredited Calibration and Testing Laboratory Performance: APLAC Calibration Proficency Testing Programs, 2003-2005;

-          Training on Good Regulatory Practice;

-          Training Program on ISO 14000 Series Product Oriented Standards: EL, LCA and DfE

-          A joint APMP-SIM Workshop Addressing the Implementation of Quality Systems in National Metrology Institutes

-          Symposium on Traceability in Legal Metrology;

-          APEC Capacity Building Workshop and Symposium for Harmonization of Food Safety Regulations in Fisheries and Seafood Products;

-          WTO Compliance- Capacity Building Training in the Development of Food Standards (based on a risk management framework);

-          WTO Compliance- Capacity Building Training in the Safety Assessment of Genetically Modified (GM) Foods; and

-          Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) Readiness Project in Environment Management system Certification

-          Training Programme on ISO14000 and product orientated standards EL, LCA and DfE

 

From 1999

 

 

·          Member economies to undertake activities from among those recommended in the revised Mid-Tern Technical Infrastructure Development Program.

From 2001

 

·          Member economies to strengthen participation in Specialist Regional Bodies activities.

From 1996

 

·          Member economies to support and actively participate in APEC Conferences on Standards and Conformance.

Completed on 2004

 

·          Member economies to support and actively participate in APEC Conferences on Good Regulatory Practice.

Completed on 2004

 

·          The SCSC to compile member economies' regulatory profile and develop information and case studies on decision tree analysis for Food/Drug Interface policy development and regulation.

From 2001

 

·          The SCSC to consider the outcomes of the Food Experts Network.

From 2002

 

·          The SCSC to continue the identification of priority areas for technical infrastructure development programs, and to be reflected in development of guidelines for project prioritization.

From 2002

 

·          Member Economies to fill out their Country Page.

From 2002

4.   Transparency

Ensure the transparency of the standards and conformity assessment of APEC economies

·          Member economies to update the APEC Contact Points for Standards and Conformance Information, including member economies’ participants in the Specialist Regional Bodies and member economies SCSC Contact Points. Member economies agreed that this information should be maintained on the APEC Secretariat’s homepage.

From 1997

 

·          Member economies to endeavor to establish Internet websites to disseminate standards and conformance information.

From 1997

 

·          Member Economies to develop a database on conformity assessment operators and their activities/services offered and establish an APEC Cooperation Center for Conformity Assessment.

 

1999 to 2004

 

 

 

 

·          Member economies to exchange information on experiences of the transparency provisions in the RTAs/FTAs

From 2003

 

·          Member economies to implement the APEC Leaders Transparency Standards on Standards and Conformance

From 2003

 

·          Member economies to establish and maintain the country pages in the Directory of Food Trade Contacts to maximize transparency of food regulatory systems and standards.

 

Cross-Cutting Activities

 

 

5.  Cooperation with Specialist Regional Bodies

 

·          Member economies to pursue closer cooperation with the Specialist Regional Bodies (SRBs) in line with the:

1.     Statement of Commitment to Mutually Agreed Objectives between the SCSC and the SRBs, and

2.     The Criteria for APEC TILF Funding of Project Proposals by Specialist Regional Bodies

From 2000

6.  Cooperation with International Bodies

 

·          The SCSC to monitor the developments within the WTO Committees on the TBT and SPS and discuss implementation issues.

·          The SCSC to continue seminar series to exchange information about the implementation of the WTO SPS Agreement

·          Member Economies to promote the use of the APEC Handbook on Notification Authorities and National Enquiry Points under the SPS and TBT Agreements of the WTO

Ongoing

 

 

 

From 2002

 

 

 

From 2002

 

 

 

 

·          The SCSC to undertake the following projects for the implementation of the APEC Strategic Plan for WTO-related Capacity Building:

-          WTO Compliance- Capacity Building training in the Development of Food Standards (based on a risk management framework)

-          WTO Compliance- Capacity Building Training in the Safety Assessment of Genetically Modified (GM)

 

 

From 2001

8. Cooperation with Other APEC Fora

 

·          The SCSC to implement Trade Facilitation action Plan collectively

From 2003

 

·          The SCSC to pursue better coordination with other APEC fora.

From 2001

 

·          The SCSC to contact SMEWG for the possible coordination of work to reduce the compliance cost for small and medium enterprises

From 2003

9. Reform of SCSC

 

 

 

·          The SCSC to implement its reform through the rationalization of its agenda, priority setting exercise and better coordination with other groups

·          The SCSC to hold Policy Dialogue sessions on standards and conformance and follow-up the policy implications arising from them

From 2001

 

 

 

 

From 2002

 

 

 

 

SCCP COLLECTIVE ACTION PLAN OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED OUTPUTS

 

OBJECTIVES

EXPECTED OUTPUTS

1. Harmonization of Tariff Structure with the HS Convention

To ensure consistency of application, certainty and a level playing field for business through the HS Convention, the standard international harmonized system for the classification of goods.

 

·          The accurate, consistent and uniform application of the HS Convention by all APEC member economies.

2. Public Availability of Information on Customs Laws, Regulations, Administrative Guidelines and Rulings provided to the business sector on an ongoing basis.

To ensure traders have access to all the pertinent information for business decisions through the provision of accurate, consistent and user-friendly information to business on an ongoing basis.

 

·          To improve transparency of APEC Customs Administrations

·          To enhance the APEC Customs Administrations’ competency in the dissemination of information on customs laws, regulations, procedures, rulings and guidelines

3. Simplification and Harmonization on the Basis of the Kyoto Convention

To improve efficiency in customs clearance and the delivery of goods in order to benefit importers, exporters and manufacturers through simplified customs procedures and best practices.

 

·          Simplified and standardized customs procedures implemented by all APEC members

4. Adoption and Support for the UN/EDIFACT / Paperless Trading

To use the standard UN electronic messaging format for automated systems, the United Nations/Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport, to promote an electronic highway for business.

 

·          The implementation by member administrations of UN/EDIFACT international electronic messaging standards as the basis for their computerization programs

5. Adoption of the Principles of the WTO Valuation Agreement

To facilitate administration of the World Trade Organization’s Valuation Agreement on standard procedures for valuing goods.

 

·          The implementation of the Agreement by members, in a timely and orderly manner, to meet members’ international obligations under the Agreement.

6. Adoption of the Principles of the WTO Intellectual Property (TRIPS) Agreement

To implement border enforcement procedures for protecting intellectual property rights.

 

·          A strategic program designed and developed to implement border endorsement of the Agreement by members, in a timely and orderly manner, to meet international obligations under the Agreement.

 

7. Introduction of Clear Appeals Provision

To provide business with an opportunity to challenge potentially erroneous or inequitable Customs decisions through mechanisms for transparent, independent and timely appeals.

 

·          Implementation of Customs appeal mechanisms by all members.

·          The enhanced transparency and effectiveness of the appeals process and client service initiatives within APEC customs administrations.

 

 

 

8. Introduction of an Advance Classification Ruling System

To establish simplified procedures for providing classification information prior to importation, thus bringing certainty and predictability to international trading and helping traders to make sound business decisions based on legally binding advice.

 

·          The introduction of simplified procedures for an advance classification ruling system to the customs procedures of each APEC economy, by the year 2000.

9. Provisions for Temporary Importation, e.g., acceding to the A.T.A. Carnet Convention or the Istanbul Convention

To help business move goods such as commercial samples, professional equipment, tools of trade and exhibition material across borders with a high degree of certainty as to how these goods will be treated by Customs by having standard procedures for admitting goods on a temporary basis.

 

·          The implementation of the terms of the A.T.A. Carnet and Istanbul Conventions.

·          The provision of a common import/export document for the temporary importation of goods.

·          An internationally accepted security for goods entitled to temporary admission without payment of duties and taxes.

10. Harmonized APEC Data Elements

To develop a comprehensive directory supported in UN/EDIFACT which includes a simplified “core set” of data elements, largely derived from commercially available data, that would satisfy the standard data requirements of the majority of APEC trade transactions and so facilitate the exchange of information and provide a foundation for common forms and electronic commerce.

 

·          The development of a set of trade data elements required for ordinary goods for home consumption.

·          The development of a set of best practices guidelines for the processing and clearance associated with the movement of goods until the goods are no longer under any customs controls.

11. Risk Management Techniques

To focus Customs enforcement efforts on high-risk goods and travellers and facilitate the movement of low-risk shipments, through a flexible approach tailored to each APEC economy.

 

·          The implementation of a systematic risk management approach will allow APEC Customs administrations to facilitate legitimate trade and travel while maintaining control.

12. Guidelines on Express Consignments Clearance

To implement principles contained in the WCO Guidelines on Express Consignment Clearance, the international standard procedures for clearance of express goods, working in partnership with express industry associations.

 

·          The timely implementation of the international standard for customs clearance of express shipments.

·          Trade facilitation while maintaining essential customs control responsibilities.

 

13. Integrity

To raise level of integrity in Customs Administrations.

 

·          More accountable, consistent, reliable and transparent Customs Administration

14. Customs-Business Partnership

To enhance the cooperation and communication between Customs and the business sector

 

·          The development of Customs-Business Partnership with the relevant players / parties in the business sector through the signing of MOUs or other instruments of cooperative arrangement.

·          The establishment of permanent and regular liaison / consultation channels between Customs and the relevant players / parties in the business sector.