In order for Swiss industrial products to be sold on foreign markets, they must provide proof that they meet the product regulations and the necessary technical requirements of the target market. This is done through so-called conformity assessments – a process that is often time-consuming and costly for Swiss exporters. Furthermore, these “quality labels” can normally only be obtained by designated bodies having their headquarters in the target market.
Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade eases burden on Swiss exporters
This is precisely where the agreement signed today Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (Mutual Recognition Agreement, MRA) between Switzerland and the United Kingdom: From 1 January 2023, Swiss companies will also be able to request conformity assessments for the British market by organizations in Switzerland for a series of their products. export. They will therefore carry out examinations according to British law. This often avoids a second certification in the UK, since the same test institute can be used for type approval in both markets. This reduces costs and saves time. Lower costs can be invested elsewhere, for example in innovation.
In concrete terms, the following product sectors now benefit from these reductions: transportable pressure equipment, telecommunications equipment, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), noise emissions from equipment used outdoors and measuring instruments. These include, for example, tanks, gas containers, radio installations, precision scales as well as the monitoring of noise limit values or sources of electromagnetic interference for industrial products. In addition to theARM already existing more than three-quarters of the volume of bilateral trade in goods between Switzerland and the United Kingdom now benefits from simplified procedures for marketing authorization. economiesuisse welcomes the conclusion of the MRA. It helps to strengthen the international competitiveness of both countries.