Product Conformity Assessment (PCA)

September 2013

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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 Product’s 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.

What is a Conformity Assessment Program?

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Product Conformity Assessment is needed to:

Prevent the importation of unsafe, sub-standard and/or counterfeit

goods

Protect consumer’s 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

Program’s Objectives

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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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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

Product’s 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)

Conformity Assessment procedure

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Applicant

Accredited Laboratory

Inspection & Certification

Body

Product Information / Request for Certification

Test Report

Audit Report

Inspection Report

Certification Body (SGS)

Product Experts (evaluation and

analysis)

Certification Manager

(Decision to certify)

Parties and activities implied in the Product Conformity Assessment

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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

More frequent questions on the need of the Certificate of Conformity

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Some of the programs under Product Conformity Assessment

Russia,

Belorussia, Kazakhstan

Customs Union

Kurdistan region,

Republic of Iraq

Saudi Arabia

Kenya

Algeria Nigeria

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 / Importer’s

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 Exporter’s 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 Exporter’s 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/ Exporter’s 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 Exporter’s choice

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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

Fees

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Over 17,250employees

in North and LatinAmerica

Over 31,500 employees

in Europe,Middle East

& Africa Over26,250 employees

in Asia/Pacific

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.

Thank you for your attention