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Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies (WP.6)

Introduction

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The Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies (WP.6) encourages increased regulatory coherence in specific sectors that have a critical impact on sustainable development and promotes greater resilience to natural and man-made hazards. WP.6 also works to:
  • Promote the use of standards by policy-makers and business as a tool for reducing technical barriers to trade, promote increased resilience to disasters, foster innovation and good governance
  • Advocate the use of standards in the implementation of UN-wide goals, including the implementation of the Agenda 2030 and the Sendai framework for action

Calendar of WP.6 events for 2024

In focus

WP.6 will hold its third Forum of subgroups from 2 to 5 April 2024. Each group (GRM, ToS-GRS, MARS, START) will meet and there will be multiple conferences on digital, green transformation from each perspective of WP.6. More information, agendas and registration available on the WP.6 Third Forum webpage.

 

Highlights

29 January 2024: WP.6 has launched a project to revise Recommendation L. Recommendation L was last updated in 2015. The new revision is taken up in order to broaden the scope of the recommendation to include services. This will include a revision of Annex A and potential splitting Annex A into two separate annexes: a model CRA for products (basically the current text) and a separate model CRA for services, processes and systems.

This project will also review Rec.L Annex B to check if it is doable; this research may result either in the deletion of this annex or updating it to a process which would be achievable. If you would like more information, please contact the secretariat.

17 January 2024: The MARS “Revision of Recommendation M on "Use of Market Surveillance Infrastructure as a Complementary Means to Protect Consumers and Users against Counterfeit Goods” project is pleased to announce that it has finalized the draft text of the revised recommendation. The draft is open for Public Review until 18 February 2024. If you are interested, please see the text and comment template on the projects page, Public Review segment.

5 January 2024: WP.6 has launched a project to develop a common regulatory arrangement for trunk pipeline safety in relation to hydrogen. This project reflects the need for harmonization of conformity assessment procedures and approaches as there are currently a lot of different standards in this area. The project seeks to provide guidance on harmonizing standards and conformity assessment systems for the transportation of hydrogen through trunk pipelines, using the template of Recommendation L for a Common Regulatory Arrangement. If you would like more information, please contact the secretariat.

24 November 2023: WP.6 launches the publication Basics of Quality Infrastructure for Trade during the 33rd Annual Session. This publication, authored by experts in the field, provides the general explanation of the various elements of quality infrastructure for trade and its relation to cross-cutting themes.

23 November 2023: WP.6 elected its new Bureau today. Heidi Lund (Sweden) is renewed as chair and Gabrielle White (Canada) is renewed as vice-chair. We also welcome Davit Tkemaladze (Georgia), Marco Pangallo (Israel) and Anthony Quinn (USA) as newly elected vice-chairs.

Highlights archives

Upcoming Events

02 April

Palais des Nations
H-building and virtual connection possible
Geneva
Switzerland

02 - 03 April

Palais des Nations
H-207-208-209, virtual connection possible
Geneva
Switzerland

02 - 05 April

Palais des Nations
H-building and virtual connection possible
Geneva
Switzerland

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