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Commerce and Industry
and the Hong Kong Chinese Importers' and Exporters' Association promote the interests of, and foster relationships among, their members. There are numerous other associations representing specific sectors or interests, and overseas chambers of commerce.
Development of Testing and Certification Industry
The Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification (HKCTC) advises the government on the overall development strategy of the testing and certification industry. The HKCTC comprises members from the testing and certification industry, the business sector, professional organisations and relevant public bodies and government departments.
The government is working closely with the HKCTC to implement recommendations made in the HKCTC's 2013 review report. General improvements have been made to the accreditation service and factors of production (manpower, technology, capital and land) for industry, whilst promoting development of new testing and certification services in six specific trades (Chinese medicine, construction materials, food, jewellery, environmental protection, and information and communications technologies). These services include product certification for Chinese Materia Medica, product certification for construction materials, food hygiene standard certification, standard testing methods for natural Fei Cui, energy management system certification, and information security management system certification.
The Mainland is gradually opening up its market to Hong Kong's testing and certification industry. Hong Kong laboratories can co-operate with Mainland certification bodies to undertake testing of products processed in Hong Kong for the China Compulsory Certification System and, on a pilot basis in Guangdong Province, provide testing for voluntary food certification. Supplement X to CEPA, signed in August 2013, allows relevant staff employed by Hong Kong testing and certification organisations without a commercial presence on the Mainland to provide services there. The scope of testing services that can be undertaken by Hong Kong laboratories has also expanded to other areas of voluntary product certification on a pilot basis in Guangdong Province.
The ITC's Hong Kong Accreditation Service operates in accordance with international standards and is active in international and regional accreditation communities. Through its multilateral mutual recognition arrangements, the results of tests, calibrations, certifications and inspections provided by its accredited organisations are widely recognised globally, thus facilitating cross- border business and trading.
Standards and Calibration Services
The Standards and Calibration Laboratory is the HKSAR's official custodian of physical measurement reference standards. It provides a calibration service traceable to the International System of Units with calibration certificates recognised internationally. It is a signatory to the Mutual Recognition Arrangement of the International Committee for Weights and Measures.
The Product Standards Information Bureau disseminates information relating to documentary standards. It operates a product standards library and provides sales of standards and free technical advice on standards-related matters. The bureau represents the HKSAR in regional and
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