Capacity building and technical assistance concerning technical barriers to trade
Article 55
1. The Parties recognise the importance of cooperating in the areas of technical regulations, standards, metrology, accreditation and conformity assessment in order to achieve the objectives of this Chapter; 2. The Parties agree that the following are priority areas for cooperation: (a) the establishment of appropriate arrangements for the sharing of expertise, including appropriate training intended to ensure adequate and enduring technical competence of the relevant standardisation and conformity assessment bodies of the SADC EPA States and mutual understanding between such bodies in the territories of the Parties; (b) the development of capacities of the SADC EPA States in the fields of technical regulations, metrology, standards, accreditation and conformity assessment including through the upgrading or setting up of laboratories and other equipment. In this regard, the Parties acknowledge the importance of strengthening regional cooperation and the need to take into account priority products and sectors; (c) the development and adoption, within the SADC EPA States, of harmonised technical regulations, standards, metrology, accreditation and conformity assessment procedures based on relevant international standards; (d) the support for the participation of SADC EPA States in international standardisation, accreditation and metrology activities; and (e) the development of TBT enquiry and notification points within the SADC EPA States.