On January 18, 2023, the National Working Conference on Certification Accreditation Inspection and Testing (hereinafter referred to as “the Conference”) was held by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) via virtual channels. The Conference summarized work from 2022 and deployed a work plan for 2023.

For 2023, the following principles were emphasized in the Conference for the certification, accreditation, inspection and testing works:

·   Fulfil the duty of the certification, accreditation, inspection and testing works in the process of Chinese-style modernization.

·   Support needs generated from the development of market surveillance and the industry.

·   Fully act in the role of national quality infrastructure.

·   Achieve high-quality development for the certification, accreditation, inspection and testing works.  

Meanwhile, the Conference also outlined the working scope and tasks for 2023:

·   Further streamline administration, delegate more powers, improve regulation, and provide better services. Improve the existing approval system and accelerate the construction of the supervision system.

·   Focus on the topics and issues that relevant industries and the public mainly concern. Achieve a supervision system that is governed by law, fully credible and intelligent.

·   All services should be provided and improved for the purpose of promoting consumption, expanding domestic demand, invigorating market activities, and optimizing industrial upgrades.

·   Enhance relevant capabilities; reinforce the leading role of policies; optimize system support; consolidate technical standard system.

·   Further carry out international cooperation and communication.

·   Improve the qualifications and skill set of the surveillance team.

For foreign stakeholders, the main contents of the Conference seem mostly favourable for their activities in the China market, as a better service and surveillance system would facilitate the business of manufacturers and importers. More concrete measures for implementing the aforementioned working tasks are quite likely to take place in certification on quality improvement of key products; enhancement of quality certification system for SMEs; the optimization of testing and inspection services to stimulate industrial upgrade etc.   

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