Unified certification system to set product quality standard
( 2002-04-10 09:49 ) (1 )

State Councillor Wu Yi said a unified front was being forged among government agencies to ensure foreign and domestic products are inspected according to the same standards.

At the core of the move is a comprehensive management system which gives those goods which meet the criteria similar certification.

The new management system will use a single set of technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures to inspect commodities, Wu said at a national conference on product quality certification.

"This is a major step aimed at fulfilling the commitments China made when negotiating entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO)," Wu said.

The whole certification system will be established in three to five years and includes compulsory and voluntary certification.

In February, the central government unveiled a new certification system that required some domestic or imported products to meet the same national standards.

The system, called compulsory product certification, features a single set of applicable technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures and fee charts.

The system will take effect on May 1 while the current certification system will be revoked one year later.

The government has announced the first batch of products to be certified by the new system.

A total of 132 products - including electric tools, household electrical appliances and audio and video equipment - have been listed as they are vital to the protection of human life, animals and plants, as well as the environment and national security.

Li Changjiang, minister of the State General Administration for Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine, told Tuesday's conference that China has made great progress in product certification since its position in the World Standardization Organization was restored.

Product quality certification, licensing and a registration system were introduced to the country, which has effectively spurred the growth of enterprises and society as a whole.

"However, many problems remain," Li said.

"An example is the two sets of certification management systems in compulsory product certification, one targeting domestic products and one for imports and exports."

Li said new obligatory marks will be applied to catalogue products.