A Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) for telecommunications conformity assessment provides a significant step forward in trade liberalisation. It reduces technical barriers to trade in telecommunications equipment by allowing equipment to be tested in the exporting country and accepted in the importing country with minimal further regulatory action. It provides an opportunity for industry and telecommunications regulatory agencies in the region to explore opportunities for new business, for cost savings, and for efficiency gains through implementation of such an arrangement.
MRA is about mutual recognition of conformity assessment procedures between two countries. There are usually two phases in the MRA. Phase I is the mutual acceptance of test reports. This means equipment that has been tested by our MRA partners will not require re-testing in Singapore. Phase II is the mutual acceptance of equipment certification. This means equipment that has been certified by our MRA partners can enter directly into Singapore market without the need for re-certification. The same principle applies to export from Singapore to our MRA partners.
MRAs eliminate the cost of re-testing and re-certification, and shorten time-to-market for partner countries' manufacturers and exporters of telecommunication equipment. This enhances their competitiveness vis-à-vis suppliers from other countries, by improving market access. Consumers also benefit from lower costs and faster delivery time. Under the MRA, companies enjoy significant cost savings from not having to re-test and re-certify their equipment in the importing countries. They also gain immediate entry into the markets by saving several weeks of re-testing.
All manufactures and vendors of telecommunications equipment can take advantage of the MRA. For example, if a vendor in our MRA partner country wants to export a new piece of telecommunication equipment to Singapore, he can have the equipment tested in his country and import directly into Singapore without re-testing. This will save the vendor as much as S$1,200 and up to 30 days, the cost and time required for re-testing in Singapore. MRAs offer tangible benefits to companies by facilitating business processes and lowering business costs.
Generally, the equipment scope may include network terminal attachment and other equipment subjected to telecommunications regulations, including wire and wireless equipment, and terrestrial and satellite equipment, which may or may not be connected to a Public Telecommunications Network. For such equipment, the MRA covers electromagnetic compatibility ("EMC") and electrical safety aspects, as well as purely telecommunications aspects of the conformity assessment requirements.
MRAs in Operation:
Phase I Phase II
Australia United States
Canada
Chinese Taipei
Hong Kong
Malaysia
United States
MRAs in the Pipeline:
Phase I Phase II
Brunei Japan
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Hotline: +65 6355 2000
Email: customs_documentation@customs.gov.sg
Hotline: +65 6211 0888
Website: www.ida.gov.sg