MUTUAL RECOGNITION AGREEMENT (MRA)
1. Context
India and Australia are working together on a solution for the smoother entry of Indian whiskey to the Australian market, two people aware of the development said. A newly formed India-Australia joint working group is considering the possibility of a mutual recognition agreement (MRA) in this respect
2.What is Mutual recognition agreement (MRA)
- A Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) is an international agreement between two or more countries to recognize and accept the conformity assessment results of each other's regulatory bodies or accredited conformity assessment bodies.
- The purpose of an MRA is to facilitate trade by reducing technical barriers and redundant testing and certification requirements for products and services.
- In simpler terms, when two or more countries have an MRA in place, they agree to accept each other's testing, inspection, and certification procedures, which means that products or services that meet the standards and requirements in one country can be sold or used in the other country without needing to undergo additional testing or certification
3. Benefits of MRA
MRAs can have a number of benefits, including:
- Reduced costs for businesses, as they do not have to duplicate testing and certification
- Increased efficiency for regulatory authorities, as they do not have to duplicate inspections
- Improved consumer protection, as products and services that meet the requirements of one country are also likely to meet the requirements of another country
4. Challenges of MRA
MRAs can also have some challenges, such as:
- The need for close cooperation between regulatory authorities
- The need to ensure that the conformity assessment systems in each country are equivalent
- The need to address issues such as language barriers and cultural differences
Despite these challenges, MRAs can be a valuable tool for facilitating trade and improving consumer protection
5. Examples of MRA
Here are some examples of MRAs:
- The European Union has MRAs with a number of countries, including the United States, Canada, and Japan. These MRAs cover a wide range of products, including cars, medical devices, and toys.
- The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) has an MRA on conformity assessment of electrical and electronic equipment. This MRA allows manufacturers to have their products tested and certified in one APEC country and then have those results accepted in other APEC countries.
- The World Trade Organization (WTO) has a TBT Agreement, which encourages countries to enter into MRAs. The TBT Agreement also provides a forum for countries to discuss and resolve issues related to MRAs.
