Implementation of New Approach directives on company level

1
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
(UNECE) UNECE INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON REGIONAL
EXPERIENCES IN GOOD GOVERNANCE FOR REGULATORY
PRACTICES

• Experience of a candidate country adapting to EU
  framework
• Dr. S. Presern,
• Ministry of Economy, Slovenia
• Geneva, Novenber 10, 2003

2
Mechanisms of technical regulation and
relationship with trade

• Technical regulation (transposition)
• Standards (voluntary)
• CE marking (manufacturers obligations, New
  Approach)
• CAB (testing, certification)
• Market Surveillance (proportionality principles)

Slovenian experience
3
On government level

• Political commitment needed
• Resources (financial) reflected in the budget
• A project of gigantic proportion (transposition
  of legislation is just one small part)
• Most difficult different thinking in all
  infrastructure and economy.

There is no guidebook to follow there are only
experiences to learn from and find the own way.
4
Management of transposition and implementation

• on government level
• on ministerial level
• on expert level

Improve effectivenees Increase transpareny Best
Regulatory Practice BRP
5
Stakeholders in technical legislation

• Ministries (legislator)
• Market surveillance (enforcement)
• Quality infrastructure
• standardisation
• accreditation
• metrology
• Conformity assessment bodies
• Industry and trade
• Consumers

They have different needs and objectives
Ministry has to lead and find a balance
6
Management of transposition and implementation on
ministerial level

• develop rules of procedures
• involvement of all stakeholders
• ensure or develop tools
• table of correspondence,
• internet, ...
• stick to the text of the directive (including
  annexes) as much as possible.

Be proactive - do not wait for translations of
directives!
7
Working groups - WG

• Define objective
• Just transposition of the directive
• Take other initiatives outside those WG (for
  instance national electrical safety board)
• Participants should identify their benefits
• Participation of experts on voluntary basis
• Industry and trade participates through chambers

Solve conflict of interests early within the WG
not later in the media or TV or even in
referendum.
8
Ministry awareness campaigns

• Get technical assistance
• learning by doing,
• exchange of experience
• sustainable projects
• Information campaigns
• guides,
• leaflets,
• training seminars,
• QA
• Develop a pool of experts

9
Standardisation

• independent institution (new law)
• 1st priority adopt all harmonized EN
• adopt EN and delete conflict standards
• become member of CEN, CENELEC, ETSI
• get information technology support

Stimulate gradual self-finacning !
10
Accreditation

• become a member of EA (European Accreditation)
• Sign MLA (multilateral agreement)
• get trained
• get involved in EU co-ordination

Accreditation is a service to industry (measure
efficinecy and improve it)
11
Experience for industry

• Implementation of technical legislation in
  companies
• Several EU Phare projects (also for SME)
• Partially performed by Slovenian experts (train
  the trainers)
• Very practical questions solved (internal market)
• extremely successful

Industry is mostly prepared and ready !
12
Market surveillance

• Starting point trained in legislation and
  standards
• go to the market together with MS inspectors in
  Slovenia and in Member States
• identify potentially non-compliant products
• share information (TRAPEX, ICSMS, e-mail and
  phone contacts with MS colleagues)

Implement principle of proportionality in practice
13
Conformity assessment bodies

• learn
• study your market possibilities
• define your area of activity
• get accredited (cost benefit analysis)
• develop market in voluntary areas (but be clear)
• try to get co-finance in equipment (form a sink
  fund)
• participate in EU coordination of NBs

14
Enlarge internal market before accession

• Legislation harmonized and implemented
• PECA in use from May 1, 2003
• LVD (electrical products)
• EMC (electromagnetic compatibility)
• Machinery
• Gas Appliances
• Slovenia has notified bodies in all sectors

Benefit for Slovenia and Member States
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Summary of Slovenian experience

• commitment to be reflected in the budget
• find priorities and stick to timetable
• involve all stakeholders in Working Groups
• use table of correspondence and other tools
• lobby and make contacts with MS experts
• follow and observe the Commissions work
• pay attention to terminology
• provide a lot of training to all infrastructure
• be proactive in proposals for technical
  assistance

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Result in SloveniaEU Internal market for
technical products

• Transposition and implementation in 5 years,
• No transitional periods,
• Slovenia is within EU in PECA sectors,
• Others sectors are ready,
• All infrastructure is functioning good.

We hope that our experience will assist others in
finding their own best way !