8 November 2016: ePing, a new online alert system designed to help government agencies and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to keep track of the latest information on regulatory requirements for international trade, was launched by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Trade Centre (ITC). The system will enable users to stay updated with notifications affecting foreign markets and products of particular interest to them.

ePing was launched at a special meeting of the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee at the WTO. The system allows access to WTO members’ notifications of TBT and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures. It also facilitates dialogue among the public and private sector in addressing potential trade problems at an early stage.

At the launch event held on 8 November 2016, Karl Brauner, WTO Deputy Director-General, explained that more transparency will make trade more inclusive. Arancha Gonzalez, ITC Executive Director, added that, by using information technology, ePing will help SMEs comply with product regulations in foreign markets and thereby reduce obstacles to trade.

Also on trade, on 3 November 2016, the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) launched a new publication that seeks to provide a comprehensive description of the steps leading to the establishment of accreditation bodies in developing countries. The authors explain that accredited conformity assessment can provide confidence in non-trade arenas such as the monitoring and measurement of progress towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their associated targets.

The report, titled ‘Setting up Accreditation Bodies in Developing Economies: A guide to opening the door for global trade,’ is an update of the 2003 UNIDO Publication, titled ‘Laboratory Accreditation in Developing Economies.’ The 2016 report is comprised of two parts.

The first part focuses on the need for accreditation and the benefits that an accreditation system can bring to good governance. It provides policymakers with a framework for establishing an accreditation body or partnering with neighboring economies to form a shared system, which can bring an economy closer to its trading partners through mutually recognized arrangements of accreditation.

The second part offers practical advice and building blocks to those who are tasked with establishing an accreditation body. It presents information on the essential operational requirements for accreditation bodies, and outlines available resources, as well as potential challenges. Case studies then follow to offer an illustration of practical applications of the guidance provided in the publication. [WTO Press Release][UNIDO Press Release][ePing Website][Setting up Accreditation Bodies in Developing Economies: A guide to opening the door for global trade]