Standards and conformity assessment
The Council's reaction to a Commission communication on Community external trade policy in the field of standards and conformity assessment, now available in the Official Journal of the European Communities has emphasised the need for harmonisation, which could be aided by technical assistance programmes. The Council stressed the need for technical assistance programmes to be aimed at encouraging international harmonisation of standards and regulation 'facilitating wherever possible, in order to ensure free trade while guaranteeing a high level of health, safety and environmental protection, and strengthening other forms of regulatory cooperation. It welcomed the Commission communication and agreed that the Community's objectives should include: - promoting international harmonisation of standards, regulations and conformity assessment procedures; - negotiating agreements on conformity assessment to reduce the costs of testing and certification in other markets; - achieving regulatory cooperation aimed at harmonising regulations and standards with other trading partners.' 'European or national organisations and Member States regulatory authorities should be involved to a much greater extent in technical assistance programmes,' it added, emphasising the need for increased transparency and consistency to avoid duplication of efforts in this area.