EU market access requirements

By Ivar FossIvar Foss Quality Management AS, Norway

EU market access requirements

• European law• Rules and regulations• European standards for traded products• International standards• Buyers’ purchase requirements • Other non-tariff measures• …..

Two categories of requriements

1. EU buyers require compliance with EU and national laws and egulations

–CBI terminology: Legislation

2. EU buyers possibly request additional requirements, beyond what is required by EU law

–CBI terminology: Non-legislation–UN ECE terminology: Private Standards

Black Box

Purchase requirements:

-Quality-Product safety-Social-EnvironmentalConsumers

NGOs

Governments

Media

Company policy

Legislative compliance:- Consumer health and safety - Environment

Public pressure:- Replace dangerous chemicals- Brands: responsibility for the supply chain

Report bad circumstances:- Social- Environmental

Expect:- Safe products- Good circumstances

Company values

EU buyer

Supply chain management

ExporterSupplier

EU consumer

Consumers

Governments

NGOsMedia

Requirements

Expectatio

ns

Supplier

Requirements

CBI classification of market access requirements

Exporters need to take into account for successful export to the EU:

Consumerhealth & safety

Social responsibility

Product quality

The environment

Products, processes and conformity assessment

Market access requirements

Quality issues

Textile labelling

Footwear labelling Quality

standards fruit

Certification

Consumer health and safety

• product labels• requirements on dangerous substances beyond

legislation• management systems

Environmental issues

• use of raw materials and natural resources• use of chemicals• waste management• management system, eco label, organic label

Social issues

• labour conditions & ILO Conventions• management systems• product labels• codes of conduct

Labels

• Communication tool: Business to business or consumer oriented

• Mainly niche markets

• Compliance is monitored by a competent body

• A fee is paid to carry the label

Example: H&M

Example: EICC

Growing number of requirements

• EU legislation

• Private sector involvement• Business ethics• Social responsibility• Corporate image• Stakeholders demand• Media coverage• Consumer awareness

More stringent requirements – why?

• Life-cycle approach (design - waste disposal)

• Traceability through the entire product chain

• Zero-tolerance for risks and recalls

• Accumulating scientific evidence

• Better testing equipment

• More procedures (compliance, testing, certification)

• Certification only by accredited bodies• Private sector fills ‘gaps’ of legislation

• Process requirements included

Increased attention to product safety

• Nutricia baby food• Growth hormones meat• BSE• Foot and Mouth disease• Birds flue• Dioxin in chicken, animal feed• Salmonella in chicken• Shigella bacteria in shrimps• Glycol in Austrian wine• Contaminated Nile

perch

Damage to your image

Market access denied: No market

EU non-legislation in CBI database

Database:• Relevant buyer requirements• Labels• Codes of Conduct• Management systems• Market impact• Links to other websites for more information

EU companies are often prepared to work together with suppliers to reach the desired level

CBI database for market information

Through the main menu of the CBI homepage www.cbi.eu :

or directly through:

www.cbi.eu/marketinfo

Scope of the database

• Market access requirements• Market surveys• Marketing guidelines and manuals

• 37 sectors• EU and 27 Member States + Norway

• Focus on analysis• Many relevant links to other websites• Helpdesk for questions

Search in the database

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