During a transition period, the authorities will mutually assess pharmaceutical legislation, guidance documents and regulatory systems under the agreement. However, recent free trade agreements indicate a change in approach and acceptance of “traditional” MRAs. For example, Article 4(6) and Article 7(21)(4) of the EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement provide for the negotiation of mutual recognition of conformity assessment for goods and services, respectively. Under the bilateral agreement concluded by EU countries on 11 November 2005, the EU and Australia accept the results of conformity assessment*, each of which is carried out for specific industrial products. Fundamentally, “traditional” MRAs do not require states to harmonize rules (i.e., create common technical standards and regulations), nor require parties to an MRA to recognise the other party`s requirements as equivalent – MRAs are limited to recognising the competence of the partner`s CABs to carry out conformity assessments. A traditional MRA is an agreement on the mutual recognition of “conformity assessment”. MRAs are trade agreements that aim to facilitate market access and promote greater international harmonization of compliance standards while protecting consumer safety. Agreement on the Mutual Recognition of Conformity Assessments, Certificates and Markings between Canada and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway (Entry into force: January 1, 2001). Sectors covered: telecommunications terminal equipment, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), electrical safety, recreational craft, good manufacturing practices (GMP) and medical devices. The explanatory memorandum contains information on the agreement, in particular: THE CEACs are generally concluded with candidate countries with which the EU has concluded association agreements (see our explanation of the association agreements) and represent a step in the accession process. The objective of the PECA is to align the technical regulations of a candidate country with those of the EU with regard to EU membership. This type of MRA is temporary in nature, as it disappears when the country joins the EU single market.

In their resolution of 21 December 1989, EU governments agreed on the principles of the MRA. On the 21st. In September 1992, they authorised the European Commission to negotiate mutual recognition agreements with certain third countries on behalf of the EU. For example, the European Commission`s recent free trade agreements with Canada and Korea provide for the conclusion of MRAs for conformity assessment without requiring partners to adapt their regulatory requirements to those of the EU. The UK document reaffirms the importance of regulatory autonomy – “compliance with each party`s regulatory law” – but also builds on some earlier considerations by suggesting that the agreement “should create a framework within which each party can require the other party to consider its technical regulation to be equivalent to its own regulation”. There are several other examples of mutual recognition of regulations, including the 2004 EU-US MRA for Marine Equipment, the 1998 Australia-New Zealand Trans-Tasmanic Mutual Recognition Agreement (TTMRA) and the 2002 EU-Switzerland MRA. The Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA)* aims to promote trade in goods between the EU and Australia by removing technical barriers. The Treaty establishes mutual recognition of conformity assessment between the United Kingdom and Australia. The agreement between the EU and Australia concerns the following sectoral agreements on the mutual recognition of conformity assessment, certificates and markings between New Zealand and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway (entry into force: 1 March 2000).

Sectors covered: pharmaceuticals (Good Manufacturing Practices, GMP), medical devices, telecommunications terminal equipment, low voltage equipment, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), machinery and pressure equipment. However, recently, the European Commission`s trade negotiators rejected mutual recognition of conformity assessment carried out by UK testing laboratories. Australia and the United Kingdom have signed an MRA on conformity assessment, certificates and markings in anticipation of the United Kingdom`s withdrawal from the European Union. This MRA also includes the certification of medical devices for the recognition of conformity assessment. The European Union (EU) has signed Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) with third country authorities on conformity assessment of regulated products. These agreements contain a sectoral annex on the mutual recognition of good manufacturing practice (GMP) inspections and the certification of batches of medicinal products for human and veterinary use. Mutual recognition of the rules has been put at stake by the British government in the Brexit negotiations, notably in Theresa May`s Florence speech and as an option for future regulation of financial services, but rejected by the EU. Council Decision 98/508/EC of 18 June 1998 concerning the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and Australia on the mutual recognition of conformity assessments, certificates and markings (OJ L 229, 17.8.1998, pp. 1-2) Contracting Parties to an MRA do not have to amend their technical regulations, which is why the United Kingdom Government now proposes the MRA for conformity assessment under its new trade agreements. Subsequent amendments to the Agreement were incorporated into the original text.

This consolidated version has only a documentary value. The MRA with Israel is an agreement on conformity assessment and recognition of industrial products (ACAA). This is a specific type of MRA based on the alignment of the legal system and infrastructure of the country concerned with that of the EU. .