On 5 May 2015, a meeting between EA and MERCOSUR representatives took place at the EA Secretariat offices in Paris in order to exchange views on standardization, accreditation and metrological traceability, as well as to promote the European model for a conformity assessment and accreditation system.
The delegation, headed by Annamaria Narizano, ECONORMAS Project Manager, from the Technical Laboratory of Uruguay (LATU), comprised: Romina Toledo from the Argentinian Ministry of Economy and Public Finances and Maria Manuela Mota dos Santos from the Brazilian Ministry of Development, both as Deputy National Coordinators of MERCOSUR; Aida Romero from the Paraguayan Ministry of Industry and Commerce and José Luis Heijo from the Uruguayan Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining, both as Technical National Coordinators of MERCOSUR. Jorgelina Doino from the Argentinian Ministry of Economy and Public Finances, Monique Getrouw from the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and External Trade, Blanca García from the Paraguayan Ministry of Industry and Commerce and Cecilia Aguerre from the Technical Laboratory of Uruguay also attended the meeting as Administrative Coordinators for ECONORMAS.
ECONORMAS is a joint project funded by the European Union and MERCOSUR (1) which started in December 2009, for a period of 72 months until 2015. The project is carried out by Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, all signatories to the Financial Agreement; it is managed by the Technical Laboratory of Uruguay (LATU).
The objective of the ECONORMAS Project is to exchange experiences – inter alia – concerning the systems of standardization, accreditation and metrological traceability (quality infrastructure).
One of the aims of the meeting with EA in Paris was to present the ECONORMAS Project’s objectives, the actions carried out and the results obtained. During the discussions, a particular focus was put on the European model for a conformity assessment and accreditation system. Major principles such as the public authority and the non-commercial nature of accreditation as well as the “No competition rule” between European national accreditation bodies (NABs) and between NABs and CABs which are specifically set out in the New Legislation Framework stirred up a specific interest from the MERCOSUR delegates.
The relationship between EA, other recognized regions and ILAC and IAF as well as requirements and agreements for regional and international recognition were also discussed.
Overall the meeting was a good occasion for fruitful exchanges on the situation and challenges in MERCOSUR and the EU with regard to the project. The discussions on whether and how to promote and implement the European model in the region were especially much welcomed by the MERCOSUR delegation.
Moreover the event was a useful opportunity to reinforce the links between EA and MERCOSUR. Completely in line with the Guidelines for Cooperation signed between EA, the EU and the EFTA, EA fulfilled its role in the promotion of the European model to support the development of a fair and reliable global accreditation system.
(1) MERCOSUR is a group of: 5 Member States of South America: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela; 5 Associate States: Chile, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru; and 2 Observers States: New Zealand and Mexico.