The products and services that are being traded are subject to certain regulations and standards. These regulations and standards ensure that what are being traded conform with the requirements for safe and fair trade. This component is made up to two complementing focal points. The first, deals with regulations and standards for safety; and the second, with the official acts dealing with accreditation function.
Regulations and standards for safety have evolved as a major conditionality in international trade arrangements which have markedly defined market access. The Philippine economic growth reflects a picture of sizeable trading activities beyond its local market while these activities have brought an influx of challenges from its regional and international markets. These challenges fall under the overarching issue of establishing equivalence in complying with regulations and standards governing trade among its overseas trading partners. Chiefly, compliance has become a key entry point to sustain trade and to transform it in the long run as an opportunity in helping reduce poverty in the country.
This component is designed to provide technical assistance to the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) of the trade and industry department and similarly with the specialized agencies of the agriculture department such as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Bureau of Plant and Industry (BPI), and the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS). The technical assistance package consists of:
- supporting capacity-building activities of these agencies to develop harmonized product standards and sanitary-phytosanitary (SPS) regulations;
- implementing relevant policy reforms;
- conducting regulatory impact analysis; and
- capacity-building in standards setting and regulatory verification.
On the other hand, the technical assistance package dealing on accreditation function is focused on strengthening the newly organised Philippine Accreditation Office (PAO) particularly in its accreditation functions that include food safety testing and medical testing (devices). Specifically, the technical assistance package is designed to:
- help build up PAO’s capacity and competence; and
- enhance the capacity of Philippine government and private trade intermediary organizations to provide support services that will assist agricultural and fishery micro-, small-, and medium- enterprises (MSMEs) comply with international standards.
This assistance consists of studies that:
- identify agri-business products with competitive advantages or export potential;
- profile of market opportunities in the EU market; and
- access requirements for selected agri-based products.
Furthermore, the assistance provides for capacity building of MSMEs to comply with SPS and certification requirements.
In due regard to the overall objective of TRTA 2, this assistance is also designed as an enabling entrepreneurial opportunity to benefit the poor.
