Mutual
Recognition Agreement (MRA) - ECONOMY
News: The
Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for organic products between India and
Taiwan has been implemented w.e.f. 8th July 2024.
What’s in the news?
The Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for
organic products between India and Taiwan:
- It
was implemented during the 9th Working Group on Trade Meeting with Taiwan
at New Delhi.
- The
implementing Agencies for the MRA are Agricultural and Processed
Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce
and Industry, India and Agriculture and Food Agency, Ministry of
Agriculture (AFA), Taiwan.
- government-to-government
trade agreement that establishes conditions for accepting conformity
assessment results from another party.
- MRAs
can include testing, certification, and inspection results. They can also
include lists of designated laboratories, inspection bodies, and
conformity assessment bodies (CABs) in both parties.
- MRAs
can help facilitate market access, harmonize compliance standards,
and protect consumer safety. For example, MRAs can reduce the need
for duplicate inspections, allowing regulatory authorities to focus on
higher-risk sites.
- They
can also reduce costs for manufacturers by reducing the number of
inspections and waiving re-testing of products upon importation
Benefit of the agreement:
India to Taiwan:
- Indian
agricultural products certified under NPOP (National Programme for Organic
Production (NPOP) can be sold in Taiwan as organic, with the "India
Organic" logo.
- This
is facilitated by an organic demonstration document issued by an
accredited certification body.
Taiwan to India:
- Taiwanese
organic agricultural products certified under their regulations can be
sold in India as organic, with the "Taiwan Organic" logo.
- They
must be accompanied by an organic demonstration document issued by an
accredited certification body.
Importance of Mutual Recognition Agreement
(MRA):