The first step on a long road to a unified certification from Lisbon to Vladivostok

European and Eurasian experts have outlined specific steps towards harmonization of legislation in the field of certification and are preparing specific proposals at the EU and the EAEU level.

On February 25, 2021, the first meeting of the Certification Task Force, created under the Initiative Lisbon-Vladivostok, was held. In Zoom format, more than a dozen authoritative experts in the field of certification, as well as representatives of the largest industry associations supporting the Initiative Lisbon-Vladivostok, discussed common approaches to harmonizing the EU and the EAEU legislation in the field of certification. The heads of the Task Force for certification Gerd Slapke and Sven Grube presented an overview of the key problems hindering the development of certain areas of business between companies from the EU and the EAEU. Mr. Slapke noted: “We don’t start our work from zero. During these six years since the start of our Initiative, we have identified common topical problems and now the task of the Task Force is to prepare specific decisions addressed to both the European Commission and the Eurasian Economic Commission."

According to Mr. Grube, it is important to keep the focus on a specific problem: “We should not stop on the way of harmonizing rules and procedures and take steady steps forward, however small”. The event was attended by the Chairman of the Board of the Initiative Lisbon-Vladivostok Ulf Schneider: "We do not want revolution. Our proposals are local and focused. They contribute to the development of business activity in the space from Lisbon to Vladivostok. "Industry experts from Germany, France, Belarus and Russia presented their reports. The experts noted the existence of common problems on testing (probation), certification, as well as mutual recognition of laboratory research results. In specific product lines experts highlighted the existing international standards and emphasized the need for the preserved certification at export-import transactions. The importance of technical regulations and standardization in the formation of industrial policy was noted by many speakers.

The experts noted that the current standardization system was created almost a hundred years ago for the second technological order that existed at that time. Today, in the age of Industry 4.0, the outdated certification system needs a significant update.

Representative of BELLIS Kathrin Moukha, Head of International cooperation Department, IECEE Technical assessor expressed confidence in the possibility of mutual recognition of product test results due to the participation of many laboratories and certification bodies in supranational associations such as the international conformity assessment system IЕCEE. “We must be guided by the principle - one product, one test and expand and strengthen the degree of participation of the EAEU member states in the IEC at all levels, and above all at the level of conformity assessment, which will ensure, including the export of national manufacturers”, the expert said.

At the end of the event, the experts agreed that it is necessary to establish working contacts between experts in the field of certification at the level of the EU and the EAEU, as well as the expert community.

The presentation of the Task Force's position paper on certification is scheduled at a conference in Lisbon, which will be held in July 2021 as part of the Lisbon-Vladivostok initiative.

Founded in 2015 by businessmen from the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) the Initiative Lisbon-Vladivostok counts on the support of more than 100 companies and business associations from 12 countries. The main goal is to advocate for a regulatory dialogue between the EU and the EAEU in order to harmonize standards and reduce trade barriers in the interest of European and Eurasian business.

Belarussian companies, such as The Belarussian Chamber of Commerce, Markformelle, The German-Belarussian Business Club, the German Belarussian Chamber of Commerce, FEZ Gomel Raton, or North IT, are among our members.