OPPORTUNITIES related to standards:
- source of up-to-date (and affordable) technical information
- possible basis (rich and sound content) for national regulations
- access to export markets
- stimulation of competition
- a driver for improving measures of public utility (health, safety,
CHALLENGES related to standards:
- domestic market open to stronger foreign competitors
- safeguarding national interests for imports
- ability of identifying national priorities and to pursue them effectively
- ability to engage national stakeholders
Priorities for developing countries should include being able to:
- Participate in the development of international standards that can be used in trade;
- Continue to review their NQI set-up and consolidate or modify as appropriate to bring more effectiveness on the part of the QI institutions, including the NSB;
- Consider UNIDO programmes of capacity-building and training; and
- Bring their concerns on the multiplicity of standards to the right fora, in order to move towards harmonization and convergence.