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FKCCI discusses certification issues with the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards
On October 12th, FKCCI representatives met with the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) to discuss ways to ease certification issues to support imports of French products in Korea.
FKCCI Chairman, David-Pierre Jalicon, FKCCI General Director, Cédric Legrand, and Head of the Economic Department of the French Embassy in Korea, Adeline-Lise Khov, met with KATS President, Lee Sanghoon, KATS General Director of the Bureau of Technical Barriers to Trade Affairs, Kim Gyu-ro, and KATS Director of FTA, Park Jai Hun.
The meeting was organized following the European Business Community Roundtable with the Korean Ministry of Trade Industry and Energy (MOTIE) where FKCCI raised non-tariff barriers issues to trade which French importers can encounter in Korea.
French importers can indeed encounter difficulties when it comes to acquiring Korean certification (including KC certification) as the process can be complicated and costly, even if they respect global standards, especially ISO.
As South Korea is seeking to diversify its suppliers internationally in the framework of its global value chain strategy, the authorities ensured that issues of non-tariff barriers are an important topic for them and that they are willing to reinforce efforts to support foreign importers.
Among other initiatives, Korea signed Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRA) with several countries including the EU, Canada, the USA, Vietnam and Chile, covering communications equipment. The purpose of the MRA is to increase the market accessibility and eliminate or reduce non-tariff barriers, but it is not an attempt to make a single standard or guideline for every country. It ensures mutual acknowledgement of conformity assessment and designation of conformity assessment bodies.
Another example is regarding electronical and electronic equipment, for which Korea and France are part in the IECEE, a multilateral agreement to allow international certification so that a single certification allows worldwide market access. The IECEE is a system of conformity assessment schemes managed by the International Electrotechnical Commission.
Don’t hesitate to contact FKCCI team to share with us certification issues your business can encounter.
