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Whether it\u2019s going to far-flung lands\u00a0or just the neighbouring country,\u00a0we all need a passport to travel.\u00a0But what about products? How\u00a0do bananas from Costa Rica get\u00a0through customs in France?\u00a0Or\u00a0watches from Switzerland get past\u00a0border control in Australia? Their \u201cpapers\u201d are often in the form of\u00a0documents such as certificates that\u00a0prove they have passed the various\u00a0rules and requirements of their new\u00a0country. International standards\u00a0can help smooth the \u201cimmigration\u201d\u00a0process and are therefore\u00a0a \u201cpassport to trade\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take the tasty mango for example. Importing it into the EU is duty-free for all countries, but it needs to comply with a wide range of measures, known as non-tariff measures or NTMs,\u00a0for which the exporter must provide adequate proof. Add to that any extra requirements by the buyer, such as evidence that the product is organic or fair trade, and the exporter has quite some work to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But with internationally recognized tests, inspections and certificates, backed up by a system of accreditation, businesses can not only reduce the costs of meeting these requirements but also increase trade opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Research done by Accredia, the Italian Accreditation Body, showed that businesses with accredited certification saw productivity gains of 30\u00a0% to 60\u00a0% through entering global value chains. It also stated that \u201cthe development of common standards, supported by mutual recognition of accredited test results, inspection reports and certificates provide simplification and reductions in the cost of commerce\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n