In global value chains, products do not stop at national borders. However, differing standards, diverse regulatory requirements and a large number of certifications make it difficult to access foreign markets.
A common understanding of quality and safety is therefore needed. Quality infrastructure is a key component of international trade facilitation. It comprises standardisation, conformity assessment and accreditation, market surveillance, product safety and metrology.
Objective: Quality infrastructures are aligned more effectively at the international level, and technical barriers to cross-border trade have been removed. This improves the safety of traded products and strengthens consumer protection.
The project supports the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) in conducting specialist policy dialogues with trade partners Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and Mexico.
In the dialogues, the project brings together government ministries, authorities, the private sector and specialist organisations from the participating countries and Germany. This also includes technical stakeholders such as standardisation institutions and accreditation bodies as well as associations and companies.
The dialogues are demand-oriented – all involved can raise issues. Participants jointly develop politically and economically viable solutions to facilitate international trade and make products safer.
For example, the project supported companies by producing practical guidelines on the current technical requirements in India. This assists industry with certification processes and supports companies in complying with Indian standards.