Background

Following the outcome of the International Forum on Market Surveillance held in conjunction with the twelfth session, in October 2002, the Working Party had recommended that a group of experts be established on market surveillance to consider the "list of issues of concern and suggestions" brought forward during the Forum and other relevant issues in order to assist Governments in developing effective systems for controlling the conformity, to applicable standards and regulations, of products in the marketplace.

The new group was established in 2003 and was given the title "Advisory Group on Martket Surveillance" ("MARS" Group).

The Working Party, at its November 2003 session, invited interested national market surveillance agencies to join the activities of the "MARS Group".