The new 'Access2Conformity' tool will allow EU exporters large and small to reduce red tape by making better use of the EU’s Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) with third countries. 

When businesses export goods to a trade partner country, these goods have to be certified by testing facilities ('conformity assessment bodies', or CABs) in the country of destination, to ensure that they comply with local rules and regulations, even when already certified for their domestic market. This essentially means that exporters must go through the process of testing their goods twice.

Fortunately, MRAs can solve this problem. In the case of the EU, they allow the exporting Member State to designate their own CAB as capable of testing and certifying exported products to make sure that they comply with the rules and regulations of the importing trade partner. These are Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the United States, and Switzerland.

Access2Conformity, integrated into the Access2Markets portal, will help EU exporters identify where in the EU they can perform product testing and certification when exporting to certain third countries

Source: European Commission - Directorate-General for Trade