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Product conformity systems and mu= tual recognition agreements provide global quality assurance and supply cha= in safety mechanisms. The increasing complexity of supply chains is adverse= ly impacting the visibility of the product conformity assessment processes,= potentially reducing trust in product claims.This project focuses o= n product conformity as part of a broader regulatory compliance framework t= o define a glide path for business-to-government (B2G) and business-to-busi= ness (B2B) transition from paper and pdf-based exchange of product conformi= ty credentials towards a paperless future.
Current product conformity and claims verification processes are vulnera= ble and cumbersome in an increasing digital trade environment with the elec= tronic exchange of trade-related data. Digitalisation of accreditation and = credentialing processes represent a response to this emerging problem. CASC= O, the ISO International Committee on Conformity Assessments, has declared = digitalisation a high priority to enhance international product conformity = systems integrity. Digital validation of credentials and claims, including = product certification, provides an important anchor of trust and means to e= stablish the bona fides of the issuing authorities.
Industry has identified the risk of systems integrity failure, not limit= ed to certificate counterfeiting or misuse, should a divergence of approach= es or =E2=80=98a mosaic of incompatible systems=E2=80=99 emerges as Conform= ity Assessment Bodies (CABs) embrace =E2=80=98their own way=E2=80=99 of man= aging issues. A recent report by NATA, JAS-ANZ and GS1 in Australia explain= s =E2=80=98the mosaic=E2=80=99 is likely to take the form of an incompatibl= e array of QR codes with proprietary (non-standard) syntax and semantics di= recting users to websites with limited, or no, validation of the credential= s (competency) of the issuing authorities.
The strength and integrity of product conformity systems has significant= implications for the digital trade environment. Linking products to = certificates and consignments is gaining significant importance =E2=80=93 e= specially in the context of increasing level of ESG supply chain regulation= s Current product conformity assurance systems struggle to provide traceabi= lity of the original conformity attestation back to the globally-recognised= authority =E2=80=93 typically the national accreditation bodies which oper= ate under global mutual recognition agreements. Advances in supply chain tr= aceability (not limited to blockchain, non-fungible tokens and verifiable c= redentials) are placing increased emphasis on ISO/IEC product identificatio= n standards, standardised semantics, and data carriers to associate physica= l products with claims about those products from creation, consumer interac= tion and the circular economy.
This White Paper aims to stocktake, align, and integrate existing UN/CEF= ACT bodies of knowledge with frameworks being developed by the global produ= ct conformity community, including IAF and ILAC members. It leverages and e= xtends existing e.Cert standards and recent G2G work on Verifiable Credenti= als to define a practical way forward (a glide-path) for B2G and B2B exchan= ge of product conformity certificates.
It will also ensure existing UN/CEFACT standards (data models, messages,= BRS) are integrated into envisaged digital conformity systems to ensure in= teroperable exchange of physical and paperless documents.
This project is closely linked with existing UN/CEFACT activities of the= PoW 2021-2022, namely, focus area C Developing further;
(g) The development of standards and recommendations to enhance the harm= onisation, exchange and processing of certificates used in trade;
(h) Work on a mutual recognition mechanism to facilitate domestic and cr= oss-border paperless trade; and,
(i) Recommendations and standards relevant to existing UN/CEFACT domains= such as Transport and Logistics; Supply Chain Management and Procurement; = Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrifood; Travel and Tourism; etc.
UN/CEFACT considers Cross-border standardisation, simplification and har= monisation to be fundamental tools for the facilitation of international tr= ading processes forming the nucleus of UN/CEFACT work.
The project complements existing UN/CEFACT standards and recommendations= and aims to overcome existing challenges and constraints for the paperless= movement of goods and services. It recognises the significant innovation a= nd opportunity that Verified Credentials provides for Government and addres= ses a significant and widening gap that exists both between mature and less= mature economies, between B2G and the vast B2B landscape.
The project brings ISO/IEC product identification standards into focus, = aligned with UN/CEFACT norms with a view to providing clear, accessible and= concise guidance for government and industry modernisation of product inte= rnational product conformity systems.
This work will benefit the development of UN/CEFACT standards in future = and governments implementing digitised trade facilitation solutions via ISC= -PDA/eDATA Verifiable Credentials for Cross Border Trade =E2=80=93 P1075