Umweltbundesamt support for improved safety of Jordan products
Successful preparations for a mutual recognition agreement in priority sector
In the past months Austrian, German and Swedish experts supported Jordan in the preparations for the negotiation of a trade agreement with the EU.
At the heart of the Jordan project was the conformity assessment and acceptance of industrial products, namely: electrical products, gas appliances and toys. The task of the Umweltbundesamt, the Environment Agency Austria, was to support the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization in the implementation of European standards for the testing of products for prohibited or restricted chemicals, e.g. Bisphenol A. In the future, electrical equipment, toys and gas appliances will be tested for harmful substances using European test methods.
The EU experts developed together with the Jordan experts several drafts to introduce EU legislation on product safety into Jordan legislation. Several trainings and seminars have supported the preparation for the extension of the international recognition concerning new scopes for accreditation. The practical market surveillance capacities have been strengthened by developing of a comprehensive set of procedures and practical trainings in market surveillance.
The Environment Agency Austria and the Swedish Board for Accreditation and Conformity Assessment (SWEDAC) were involved in the project as junior partners. The project was led by the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy under the supervision of the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation and the EU Delegation in Jordan. It was funded through the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI).
The Environment Agency Austria in a nutshell
The Environment Agency Austria is the most important environmental expert organisation organisation institution in Austria and, with a demonstrable track record of more than 100 projects in 27 countries in eastern and south-eastern Europe and in the Mediterranean countries, an experienced project partner. The Environment Agency builds bridges between the economy, science and politics at national and international level and develops perspectives on the sustainable development of society in Austria, Europe and beyond. Since 1999 the Environment Austria has been supporting central and south-eastern European authorities in institutional capacity building and in the implementation of EU legislation.
