HKAS

In the area of certification and accreditation, the Annex of Supplement X to CEPA includes contents relating to the movement of natural persons "to allow contractual service providers employed by Hong Kong service suppliers, in the mode of movement of natural persons, to provide services under this sector or sub-sector on the Mainland". The Mainland has formulated an Implementation Guide, which provides details for the implementation of the liberalisation measure. At the same time, HKAS has prepared HKCAS Supplementary Criteria No. 14 'Requirements for Hong Kong Certification Bodies Sending Staff to the Mainland to Provide Certification Service' to stipulate requirements for accredited certification bodies for implementing the measure.

 

The Agreement between the Mainland and Hong Kong on Achieving Basic Liberalisation of Trade in Services in Guangdong (Guangdong Agreement) was signed between the Mainland of China and HKSAR in December 2014. It includes measures allowing testing organisations in Hong Kong to cooperate with designated Mainland organisations to undertake testing of products in the 'audio and visual apparatus' category of the CCC system that are designed and prototyped in Hong Kong, as well as processed or manufactured in Guangdong Province. The scope of testing services that can be provided by Hong Kong testing organisations in the area of voluntary certification has been expanded to products manufactured or processed in Hong Kong or Mainland. Moreover, with respect to the mode of commercial presence, except for those inconsistent / inapplicable measures reserved as well as the measures on standards management, the Guangdong Agreement offers local testing and certification industry same treatment as the Mainland enterprises in terms of market access requirement in Guangdong Province.

The Mainland has formulated an Implementation Guide, which provides further details for the implementation of these liberalisation measures.

 

Supplement X to CEPA was signed between the Mainland of China and HKSAR in August 2013. It includes expanding the scope of testing services for the purpose of certification that can be undertaken by Hong Kong testing organisations and in the participation of Mainland testing and certification activities, according the same treatment to relevant organisations set up in the Mainland by Hong Kong service suppliers.

 

The Supplement IX to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) was signed between the Mainland of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in June 2012. Starting from January 2013, the new measure expands, on a pilot basis in Guangdong Province, the scope of certification services that can be undertaken by Hong Kong testing organisations to cover food.

 

The Supplement VIII to CEPA was signed between the Mainland of China and the HKSAR in December 2011. Starting from April 2012, the new measure allows, on the basis of the Supplement VII to the CEPA, testing organisations in Hong Kong to co-operate with designated Mainland certification bodies to undertake product testing for the China Compulsory Certification (CCC) System for all existing products processed in Hong Kong that require CCC. These testing organisations have to be accredited by Hong Kong Accreditation Service to be capable of performing testing for the relevant products under the CCC System.

 

The Supplement VII to CEPA was signed between the Mainland of China and the HKSAR in May 2010 includes liberalisation measures of the CCC System and arrangements to help testing organisations in Hong Kong to become recognized testing organisations under international multilateral systems on mutual recognition of testing and certification that are open to national member bodies (such as the IECEE / CB system).

 

Supplement X to CEPA clause relating to testing and certification

• Liberalisation of Trade in Services
  1. To expand, on a pilot basis in Guangdong Province, the scope of testing services for the purpose of certification that can be undertaken by Hong Kong testing organisations from food to other areas of voluntary product certification.
  2. To accord to certification bodies, inspection bodies and laboratories jointly or solely set up in the Mainland by Hong Kong service suppliers, when participating in testing and certification activities, the same treatment as is accorded to Mainland certification bodies, inspection bodies and laboratories.
  3. On the basis of mutual trust and mutual benefit, to allow testing and certification organisations in Hong Kong to cooperate with the Mainland testing and certification organisations in respect of acceptance of testing data (results). Specific cooperation arrangements are subject to further discussion.
  4. To allow contractual service providers employed by Hong Kong service suppliers, in the mode of movement of natural persons, to provide services under this sector or sub-sector in the Mainland.
• Liberalisation of Trade in Services
  1. To expand, on a pilot basis in Guangdong Province, the scope of testing services for the purpose of certification that can be undertaken by Hong Kong testing organisations from food to other areas of voluntary product certification.

 

Supplement IX to CEPA clause relating to testing and certification

• Liberalisation of Trade in Services
  1. To expand, on a pilot basis in Guangdong Province, the scope of certification services that can be undertaken by Hong Kong testing organisations to cover food.

 

Supplement VIII to CEPA clause relating to testing and certification

• Liberalisation of Trade in Services
  1. To expand, on the basis of Supplement VII to the CEPA, the scope of product testing that can be undertaken by testing organisations in Hong Kong for the China Compulsory Certification (CCC) System to all existing products processed in Hong Kong that require CCC. These testing organisations have to be accredited by the accreditation body of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (i.e. the Hong Kong Accreditation Service) to be capable of performing testing for the relevant products under the CCC System.

 

Supplement VII to CEPA clause relating to testing and certification

• Liberalisation of Trade in Services
  1. To allow testing organisations in Hong Kong to cooperate with designated Mainland organisations to undertake testing of products for the China Compulsory Certification (CCC) System on a pilot basis, for selected products listed in the CCC Catalogue and processed in Hong Kong (i.e. the processing facilities are located in Hong Kong). These testing organisations have to be accredited by the accreditation body of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (i.e. the Hong Kong Accreditation Service (HKAS)) to be capable of performing testing for the relevant products under the CCC System. Cooperation arrangements should comply with relevant requirements in the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Certification and Accreditation.
• Trade and Investment Facilitation
  1. To actively promote cooperation between Hong Kong's testing laboratories and Mainland's certification bodies which are members of international multilateral systems on mutual recognition of testing and certification that are open to national member bodies (such as the IECEE / CB system), so that Hong Kong's testing laboratories can be recognized under these multilateral systems.