APEC/SCSC Activities for Regulatory Reform Related to Standards and Conformance Koichi Noda Director of JETRO GENEVE Representative of JISC in GENEVE Former APEC/SCSC contact of Japan

What is APEC/SCSC SCSC (Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance) Established in 1994 under CTI (Committee on Trade and Investment) 21 member economies for APEC SCSC : Thailand, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chili, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russian Federation, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, United States of America, Viet Nam

SCSC Works  Promotion of alignment with international standards  Promotion of MRAs in regulated and voluntary sectors  Promotion of Good Regulatory Practice (GRP) Promoting participation in international standardization Promotion of building technical infrastructure Promotion of ensuring transparency contributing to the related WTO activities

SCSC Works (1) - Alignment with International Standards - In 1996, SCSC agreed to promote the alignment of member ’ s national standards with international standards in four priority areas - electrical and electronic appliances - food labeling - rubber products - machinery In 1998 and in 2000, SCSC agreed to add new priority areas - electrical safety (IEC60335s) - EMC (CISPRs) - IEC ISO/IEC Guides and ISO 9000/14000

SCSC Works (2) - MRAs in Regulated Sectors - SCSC has been promoting the following MRAs in regulated areas; - Exchange of Information on Toy Safety - Conformity Assessment of Foods and Food Products - Conformity Assessment of Electrical and Electronic Equipment - Exchange of Information on Food Recalls These MRAs are; - providing frameworks for mutual recognition among APEC members - still at information exchange level to build regulatory confidence - “Pathfinder” approach; only participated by members that are willing to

SCSC Works (2 ’ ) - MRAs in Voluntary Sectors - Promotion of voluntary MRAs such as APLAC and PAC MRAs - promote members’ CABs to participate in voluntary MRAs by 2000/ giving policy support as well as funding support to the works of specialist regional bodies (SRBs) such as APLAC, APMP, PAC, to promote voluntary MRAs

SCSC Works (3) - Promotion of Good Regulatory Practice (GRP) - SCSC discussed on GRP since 1998, and agreed on it in 2000 SCSC promotes the dissemination of the idea of GRP to interested parties (regulators, standards and conformance bodies, industries, etc.) through GRP seminars

Principles of APEC/GRP Before implementing mandatory requirements, alternative mechanisms should be considered. Those alternative mechanisms include; reliance on systems of legal recourse; liability laws; taxes; education program; voluntary standards; self-regulation The compliance regime used to ensure that the regulatory objectives are being met should be the least interventionist necessary to achieve the regulatory objective and are the least trade restrictive means of arriving at its goal

Features of Good Regulations Good Regulations: - are transparent and non-discriminatory - are performance based - reference international standards or internationally aligned standards where applicable, taking into account health, safety, technological, climate developmental and other factors - reference only those standards or parts there of, necessary to achieve the legitimate regulatory objective; and - are subject to review to maintain flexibility and adaptability to modern needs

Information Notes on Good Regulatory Practice Reference Guideline to implement GRP Regulation of Products (Policy Framework) Technical Regulation Conformity Assessment Regulatory Safety Nets Post-Market Surveillance

GRP Seminars 1 st at BRUNEI 2 nd and 3 rd at CHINA 4 th and 5 th at MEXICO

Thank you for your attention Welcome any question END