2017年-世界发展银行全球_A_Win_for_the_Private_Sector___Harmonizing_Standards_in_the_East_African_Community_Partner_States_3页_358kb

Summary of the FEBRUARY 2017 SmartLessons Document

Core Content

This document outlines the Standards Harmonization Project initiated by TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) in 2011, aimed at reducing trade barriers within the East African Community (EAC) by aligning product standards across member states. The project concluded its first phase in June 2017 and is part of a broader effort to support regional integration through improved regulatory cooperation.

Main Objectives

• Reduce the cost and time associated with complying with multiple standards across EAC Partner States.
• Facilitate smoother trade by harmonizing product and technical standards.
• Create a more efficient and effective regional standards framework.

Key Information

• Project Duration: Launched in 2011, first phase ended in June 2017.
• Targeted Goods: The top 20 most commonly traded goods in the EAC by value, such as cement, iron and steel products, edible fats and oils, tobacco, and soap.
• Harmonized Standards: 170 standards related to 40% of the top 20 products have been harmonized.
• Impact:
  • Testing clearance time reduced from 38 days to 10 days (for non-certified products) and further to 1 day (for certified products).
  • Testing costs dropped by 54%, from USD 500 to USD 205.
• Support Mechanisms:
  • Training for National Bureau of Standards (NSB) officers.
  • Collaboration with the EAC Regional Private Sector Standards Platform (EASP).
  • Provision of testing equipment and support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Main Lessons Learned

Lesson 1: Start with the basics

• TMEA provided foundational training to NSB officers on the Principles and Procedures of Standards Harmonization.
• This training helped establish a common understanding and interpretation of the harmonization process.
• The procedures were developed by the Standards Management Committee (SMC) and approved by the East African Standards Committee (EASC) in 2012.

Lesson 2: Engagement with potential partners and stakeholders

• TMEA maintains a national presence in each EAC Partner State and a regional team that works with government, civil society, and the private sector.
• The EASP was established to advocate for a streamlined standards framework and provide input for prioritizing standards.
• National-level support included providing testing equipment and certification assistance to SMEs, leading to significant improvements in efficiency and cost.

Lesson 3: Draw the private sector into the reform process

• Private sector involvement was critical to ensuring that harmonized standards addressed real trade concerns.
• TMEA worked with the EASP to gather input and ensure that private sector recommendations were integrated into the process.
• Workshops were held to engage the private sector and ensure buy-in from end-users of the standards.

Lesson 4: Prioritize! Not all standards need to be harmonized

• Due to resource limitations, TMEA focused on the top 20 products by value.
• Additional standards were harmonized based on specific requests from NSBs and the private sector.
• This targeted approach maximized impact and ensured that harmonization efforts were aligned with actual trade needs.

Conclusion

The Standards Harmonization Project has significantly improved the efficiency of trade within the EAC by reducing costs and time for compliance. The private sector has been a key beneficiary, and the success of the project is attributed to strategic prioritization, stakeholder engagement, and foundational training. The process is ongoing, and further harmonization is expected to enhance regional integration and economic development.