ACP EU TBT Programme

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Quality infrastructure (QI) refers to the public and private institutional framework needed to implement standardisation, accreditation and conformity assessment services including inspection, testing, laboratory and product certification. Governments often play an important role in QI. Governments also delegate QI responsibilities to the private sector, such as laboratory work and other testing and inspection procedures.

ACP countries require an effective quality infrastructure to develop, implement, and verify compliance with technical regulations and standards. By strengthening their quality infrastructure, ACP countries are better able to meet foreign technical regulations and standards and are thus in a better position to maintain and potentially increase their exports. Improving QI also means that ACP members are in a better position to guarantee domestic product safety and the efficient delivery of goods and services.

Developing an effective quality infrastructure poses many challenges for ACP countries. QI facilities, such as laboratories, are expensive to develop and operate. Equipment is costly, and specialised technicians are needed to undertake QI work. Yet without an adequate quality infrastructure, ACP countries will have enormous difficulties maintaining and increasing market access for their exports – particularly exports to developed countries. They will also have tremendous difficulty ensuring that the goods sold on their market are safe and meet domestic and international standards. QI is therefore important, not only as a means to maintain and increase market share, but also as a means to maintain and develop consumer confidence.

The documents appended below were produced in conjunction with ACP-EU TBT Programme projects dealing with Quality Infrastructure.