CIS countries to adopt UNECE legal
instruments
to boost regional trade
Geneva, 28 May 2003
Policy makers from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) recently agreed
to adopt the UNECE “International Model for Technical Harmonization” to boost
regional trade. The decision was taken at the annual session of the Euro-Asian
Interstate Council for Standardization, Metrology and Certification (EASC),
which took place in Yerevan from 20-22 May. EASC is an umbrella organization
for 12 CIS States and provides a framework for CIS activities on standardization,
technical harmonization, certification and metrology.
Seeking ways to facilitate intra-group trade, CIS countries
decided to use the principles and mechanisms proposed in the “International
Model” in preparing an intergovernmental agreement on the harmonization of
their technical regulations. This agreement is aimed at eliminating technical
obstacles to trade within the CIS, thus increasing trade and improving economic
cooperation. A task force has been set up to prepare the agreement.
The UNECE Recommendation on Standardization Policies (Recommendation
L: “International Model for Technical Harmonization”) was drawn up in 2001
by the Working Party on Technical Harmonization and Standardization Policies,
which included representatives of CIS States.
The Working Party comprises between 50 and 70 specialists
from all over the world. The group’s major concern is to encourage all 55
UNECE member countries to develop, adopt and apply harmonized technical regulations
and standards, as well as conformity assessment procedures. Its main objectives
are the safeguard of public health and safety, improvement of the environment,
promotion of scientific and technological cooperation, and the removal of
technical barriers to international trade resulting from disparate standards
and technical regulations and their application.
Christer ARVIUS, Chairman of the Working Party, sees the
adoption of the Model for the CIS as a very useful tool for promoting regional
integration. He points out that the Council of the European Union last year
commended the “International Model” as a positive example of the “standards-receptive
regulatory models” to be promoted with EU trading partners.
Web sites
Working Party on Technical Harmonization and Standardization Policies:
http://www.unece.org/trade/stdpol
Euro-Asian Interstate Council for Standardization, Metrology and Certification:
http://www.easc.org.by/english/english.php3
International Model for technical harmonization based on good regulatory
practice for the preparation, adoption and application of technical regulations
via the use of international standards [Available in doc and pdf formats]:
http://www.unece.org/trade/tips/wp6/wp6-02-list.htm
For further information, please contact:
Serguei Kouzmine
Secretary to the Working Party on Technical Harmonization
and Standardization Policies
Trade Development and Timber Division
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Palais des Nations, office 433-1
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 (0) 22 917 27 71
Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 04 79 /917 00 37
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.unece.org/trade/standpol
Ref: ECE/TRADE/03/N05