Croatian Government’s

Priorities in the Regulatory Area

UNECE-SIDA “South East Europe Regulatory Project”

Ljubljana, 8 June 2004

WTO membership

TBT Agreement Code of good practice

Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU (SAA)

“make necessary measures in order to gradually achieve conformity with Community technical regulations and European standardisation, metrology, accreditation and conformity assessment procedures” (Article 73)

a period of six years

National Strategy for Technical Harmonisation with the EU

January 2003 Separation of the relevant functions of the

State Office for Standardisation and Metrology

responsibilities for the transposition and implementation of new approach and old approach directives

Horizontal IssuesLegislative framework

September/October 2003 Law on Technical Requirements for

Products and on Conformity Assessment Law on Standardisation Law on Accreditation Law on General Product Safety Law on Metrology

Standardisation

- Independent institution - 1 January 2005- Priority: to adopt all harmonised European

standards - To withdraw all the standards which are

not harmonised with European or international standards

- Voluntary participation and application of Croatian standards

Accreditation

Independent national accreditation body as a public institution - 1 January 2005

Necessary infrastructure already exists within State Office for Standardisation and Metrology which acts as the National Accredition Service

Technical requirements and conformity assessment

The new Law on Technical Requirements for Products and Conformity Assessment

Defines methods to determine technical requirements for products

Conformity assessment procedures in line with corresponding New Approach Directives

Adoption of technical regulations

Technical requirements and conformity assessment

Rules for affixing and use of the CE conformity marking (93/465/EEC)

A form of the conformity marking to be affixed to products will be defined in a separate regulation

Market surveillance with regard to the fullfilment of the requirements for products

Technical regulations

Croatian Government is currently adopting an Implementation Programme which will assign different ministries with the task of transposition and implementation of the New Approach Directives into Croatian legislation

Drafting of technical regulations is planned to be completed by the end of 2004

Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship

low-voltage electrical equipment (73/23/EEC)

simple pressure vessels (87/404/EEC) machinery (98/37/EC) lifts (95/16/EC) personal protective equipment

(89/686/EEC)

Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship

appliances burning gaseous fuels (90/396/EEC)

pressure equipment (97/23/EC) efficiency requirements for new hot-water

boilers fired with liquid or gaseous fuels (92/42/EEC)

energy efficiency requirements for household electric refrigerators and freezers(96/57/EC)

Ministry of Health and Social Welfare

safety of toys (88/378/EEC) medical devices, general (93/42/EEC) active implantable medical devices

(90/385/EEC) in vitro diagnostic medical devices

(98/79/EC)

Ministry of the Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development

electromagnetic compatibility (89/336/EEC)

recreational craft (94/25/EC) radio and telecommunications terminal

equipment (99/5/EC) cableway installations for persons

(2000/9/EC)

Ministry of Environmental Protection, Physical Planning and Construction

construction products (89/106/EEC) packaging and packaging waste (94/62/EC) interoperability of the trans-European high-

speed rail system (96/48/EC) marine equipment (96/98/EC)

Conformity assessment

Through the implementation of these directives, relevant procedures laid down in the directives will be introduced in the Croatian conformity assessment system.

Transposition Working Groups

Established at ministerial level for the transposition of a particular directive and compilation of technical regulations

Include representatives from business and civil society

Technical assistance under the CARDS 2001 project “EU Industrial Standards” is provided to 9 transposition groups

Co-ordination

A Steering Group at high governmental level

Members are all responsible ministers headed by the Deputy Prime Minister resonsible for the economy

Enables gathering of all respective date related to the issue of cross-sectorial implementation of directives

Weaknesses

No adequately trained personnel Insufficient capacities, in particular of the

Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship, as notified body responsible for technical legislation

No conformity assessment bodies acting as notified bodies

How to address these weaknesses?

Specialised training of the existing staff through CARDS programme

Recruitment of new experts for technical legislation

Reorganisation of the Ministry of Econoy, Labour and Entrepreneurship is a priority – Internal Market Directorate

How to address these weaknesses?

Enhance the capacities of current certification bodies in line with the requirements of the European notified bodies

Inform producers about the new legislation Ensure financial resources to enable the

existing testing laboratories to purchase new equipment

Results

EU standards adopted and implemented Trained and competent personnel Market operators familiar with regulations

and standards in their export markets and able to compete

Limitation of obstacles to international trade and facilitated market access