International Trade and Guidelines on Equivalence and Mutual Recognition

Abstract

The purpose of the report is to provide an overview of international guidelines dealing with the application of equivalence and mutual recognition as trade facilitating tools, focusing on the main aspects and application areas of these guidelines. The aim is furthermore to get a better understanding of both existing relevant guidelines and the possible need for development of further guidance in this area. The report focuses in particular on the potential for applying equivalence and mutual recognition in relation to food trade, and relates this to discussions taking place in the WTO and the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC). The report seeks to increase the knowledge about relevant guidelines and thus provide a better basis for decisions on whether to move the work on these issues further in the relevant international forums dealing with trade facilitation.