Product Conformity Assessment (PCA)

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Product Conformity Assessment (PCA)
September 2013
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What is a Conformity Assessment Program?

• Product Conformity Assessment is a solution
  designed to ensure that specific products meet
  the requirements of the technical regulations and
  standards set by a regulatory authority in the
  importing country.
• The program consists of verifying Products
  compliance with the requirements of applicable
  standards and technical regulations.
• The evaluation is done following the review of
  reports from one or a combination of
  interventions such as laboratory testing,
  physical Inspection and factory audits.
• The conformity of the products is evidenced by
  the issuance of a Certificate of Conformity
  usually requested for customs clearance.

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Programs Objectives

• Product Conformity Assessment is needed to
• Prevent the importation of unsafe, sub-standard
  and/or counterfeit goods
• Protect consumers health and safety and the
  environment
• Safeguard local producers Industry from unfair
  competition
• Reduce the risk that the domestic market becomes
  the dumping ground for nonconforming products
• Facilitate customs clearance process
• Overcome the risk of rejection of the products in
  the country of destination
• Promotes the image of the quality of the products

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Benefits for the exporting countries

• Improves economic growth and development
• Facilitates trade and access export markets (
  product counts with an added value)
• Reduces the risk of rejection of the products by
  the importer and by the local market at the
  country of destination
• Provides good information of the quality of the
  products (certified products quality guarantee)
• Generates trust in the client countries
• Consumer confidence in products and services
• Image of quality
• Helps the private sector to solve the quality ,
  compliance and certification problems

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Conformity Assessment procedure

• Depending on the nature of the product and
  certification scheme, the verification procedure
  may include one or a combination of the following
  activities
• Product testing
• Physical Inspection
• Factory and desk Audits
• Documentary review
• Products conformity with defined requirements is
  evidenced by a document of compliance (e.g.
  Certificate of Conformity) issued by the
  Certification body following applicable
  certification standards (e.g. ISO Guide 65)

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Parties and activities implied in the Product
Conformity Assessment
Applicant
Product Information / Request for Certification
Certification Body (SGS) Product Experts
(evaluation and analysis) Certification
Manager (Decision to certify)
Test Report
Accredited Laboratory
Audit Report
Inspection Certification Body
Inspection Report
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More frequent questions on the need of the
Certificate of Conformity

• Why is it needed?
• Because the presentation of the CoC is a
  mandatory requirement in the importing country.
• Are other certificates recognized or validated?
• The fact of having other certifications does not
  exonerate the exporter or producer to obtain the
  CoC for a specific transaction
• Having other types of certificates might help to
  reduce the scope of the intervention
• Where is required? What
  for? Who needs it?
• Destination Customs To clear the consignment
  The importer
• In the Bank To
  negotiate the LC The
  exporter
• In the Ministry / Bank To open an
  Import License The exporter

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Some of the programs under Product Conformity
Assessment
Russia, Belorussia, Kazakhstan Customs Union
Saudi Arabia
Kurdistan region, Republic of Iraq
Kenya
Nigeria
Algeria
Ethiopia
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Algeria

• Mandate authorized by the Central Bank of Algeria
• The scope of the program is to ensure conformity
  of imported products to the applicable technical
  regulation and standards
• All transaction regulated by a letter of credit /
  cash against documents or being composed of
  consumer goods.
• The attestation is through the issuance of a
  Certificate of Conformity (CoC) / Certificat de
  Controle de Qualité des Marchandises
• The purpose is the goods clearance or the letter
  of credit negotiation
• The selection of the Certification body can be
  either Exporter / Importers choice

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Saudi Arabia

• Mandate authorized by the Ministry of Commerce
  and Industry
• The scope of the program is to ensure conformity
  of imported products to the applicable technical
  regulation and standards
• The attestation is through the issuance of a
  Certificate of Conformity (CoC)
• The purpose of attestation is Custom clearance
  and Saudi Authorities post market surveillance
• The selection of the Certification body is
  Exporters choice

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Kurdistan / Iraq

• Mandate authorized by Kurdistan Standardization
  and Quality Control Administration
• The scope of the program is to assess and verify
  the conformance with Iraqi/Kurdish Standards
  and/or approved International Standards and
  certification of each compliant shipment
• All consignments of imported goods subject to the
  Program
• The attestation is through the issuance of a
  Certificate of Conformity (CoC)
• The purpose of attestation is Custom clearance
  and import of goods in Kurdish / Iraqi market
• The selection of the Certification body is
  Exporters choice

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Nigeria

• Mandate authorized by The Standards Organisation
  of Nigeria (SON)
• The scope of the program is to assess and verify
  the conformance with Nigerian Industrial
  Standards and/or approved International Standards
  and certification of each compliant shipment
• All consignments of imported goods subject to the
  Program
• The attestation is through the issuance of a
  Product Certificate (unregistered, registered or
  licensed) and consequent issuance of Certificate
  of Conformity for each shipment.
• The purpose of attestation is to obtain the
  SONCAP certificate in Nigeria directly.
• The selection of the Certification body is
  Producer/ Exporters Choice

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Kenya

• PVoC program launched by KEBS (Kenyan Bureau of
  Standards)
• Three certification routes
• Route A consignment inspection and testing
• Route B Product registration
• Route C Licensing
• Testing should be performed in accredited ISO/IEC
  17025 laboratories
• COC is a mandatory customs clearance document for
  each consignment.
• Goods arriving without COC will be denied entry
  or penalties will be imposed at KEBS discretion.

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Russia, Belorussia, Kazakhstan Customs Union

• Since 2010 Customs Union between Russia,
  Belorussia and Kazakhstan and creation of a
  Unique Certification System with Technical
  Regulation (similar to EU Directives) valid on
  the territories of these Countries.
• Gost Certificate System still exists for those
  products for which Technical Regulation has not
  been issued yet.
• Conformity to products to Technical Regulation
  Customs Union is assessed by issuance of a CoC or
  DoC to TR CU. Such documents can be issued only
  by Certification Bodies accredited for Customs
  Union.
• Only goods with HS code indicated in the TR CU
  are subject to CoC or DoC TR CU.
• The purpose of the CoC or DoC TR CU is Customs
  clearance, post market surveillance, installation
  and putting into operation.
• The selection of the Certification body is
  Exporters choice

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Fees

• PCA fees depend on the scope of the program as
  well as the type and the level of interventions
• In some of our programs, fees are established by
  our Principals
• The fees are generally borne by the exporters

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SGS Network

• At the end of 2012 we employed approximatively
  75.000 employees. SGS operates a network of over
  1,500 offices and laboratories around the world.

Over 31,500 employees in Europe, Middle East
Africa
Over 17,250 employees in North and Latin America
Over 26,250 employees in Asia/Pacific
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Thank you for your attention