Standards & Conformance for Productivity & Market Acceptance
FOR THE SINGAPORE PRODUCTIVITY AND STANDARD BOARD
December 1997
I
BACKGROUND
The
purpose of the Project was to support the Singapore Productivity & Standards
Board (PSB's) strategic thrusts to improve market access and improve quality and
productivity of Singapore products and services through standardization.
PSB specifically requested recommendations for the Conformity Assessment
infrastructure needed in Singapore and with whom PSB should network with in the
US to assist local industry meet testing and certification requirements in the
US and Global markets. PSB also requested advice on national strategies for
Mutual Recognition Agreements as tools for promoting the acceptance of Singapore
exports in global markets
II
PROJECT APPROACH
Over
the course of the two weeks on site in Singapore, GTW Associates participated in
21 meetings, conferences and round table discussions.
GTW Associates met with both Singapore government officials and with
representatives of the private sector. Based
on the information collected in the meetings and conferences, GTW Associates
prepared PRINCIPAL FINDINGS summarized
below and detailed in section III of
the report and RECOMMENDATIONS responsive
to the PSB objectives for the project.
III
PRINCIPAL FINDINGS
Singapore
has an open entrepreneurial economy with strong service and manufacturing
sectors and excellent international trading links. Singapore's national Conformity Assessment infrastructure on
absolute terms is on a par with those in developed economies and in relative
terms is highly advanced with respect to the supporting economic base.
Singapore's national standards infrastructure and participation in International
standards organizations is sophisticated with respect to its supporting economic
base. PSB is providing useful Conformity Assessment (CA) services to the
Singapore industrial base, but there are demands for additional capacity and the
services may be under utilized because of lack of awareness on the part of
potential industrial users. Singapore Regulatory requirements are relatively
business friendly; do not present non-tariff barriers to trade; represent
candidates for Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) with counterpart regulatory
systems in other markets; and present opportunities for greater Singapore
national use of Global trends towards Suppliers Declaration of conformity.
Singapore's industrial base of exporters do not appear to encounter significant
"non-tariff barriers to trade" as defined by the World Trade
Organization, but have unmet needs for information and assistance in meeting
foreign national standards and technical regulations. Singapore's national
standards and conformity assessment infrastructures face competitive
challenges in the global community of such national services from those
economies that have a broader industrial and consumer base that supports
"critical masses" of national resources and capital investments in
standards and conformity assessment.
IV RECOMMENDATIONS
V PROJECT ACTIVITIES
VI PROJECT DELIVERABLES
APPENDICES
A SINGAPORE ECONOMIC PROFILE
B US - SINGAPORE TRADE
C USTR REPORT ON SINGAPORE
TRADE ISSUES
D TABD Committee on
Standardization
and Conformity Assessment Framework
Document on Conformity Assessment
E Summary Report U.S.-ASEAN
Alliance for Mutual
Growth (AMG) Standards
Delegation, July 1996