. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/W/200
17 March 2003
(03-1546)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  English
KOREA’S EXPERIENCE ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
IN THE AREA OF THE TBT
Submission by Korea
1. The following is intended to contribute to the compilation of the relevant information by the
Committee and the Secretariat, by introducing Korea's experiences on technical assistance to
developing countries in the field of standards and conformity assessment.
I. WORKSHOP ON THE NATIONAL STANDRADS SYSTEM AND PRECISION
MEASUREMENT
2. Since 1983, Korea has been organizing the a nnual “Workshop on the National Standards
System and Precision Measurement”, inviting scientific technicians in developing countries from
Eastern Europe, Middle East, Afri ca, South America as well as Asia-Pacific region.  The Workshop
provides both theoretical lectures and practical exercises in the field of national standards systems and
precision measurement such as length, mass, force, electricity, temperature, sound vibration, pressure,vacuum, humidity, optics, etc.
II. TRAINING PROGRAM ON ISO 14000 SERIES PRODUCT ORIENTED
STANDARDS:  EL, LCA, AND DFE
3. As a part of APEC’s program, Korea provided the “Training program on ISO 14000 series
product oriented standards” last year, which was offered to developing countries in APEC region.The program is designed to provide experts from APEC economies with training on ISO 14000 Series
Product Oriented Standards such as LCA (Life Cycle Assessment), Environmental Labels, and
DfE (Design for Environment).  Through the program, cooperation among the APEC member
economies can be enhanced by the exchange of information among the APEC member economies,
recognition of the importance of the environmental standards, among others.
III. TIC-CAR PROJECT THROUGH THE APEC COOPERATION CENTER FOR
CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT
4. In an effort to facilitate transparency of standards and conformity assessments which was
particularly highlighted in APEC/SCSC, Korea has performed the project to establish
APEC cooperation centre for conformity assessmen t.  The project, also known as the TIC-CAR
Project, is to set up an online TIC-CAR Database ( http://www.apectic-car.org ) to serve as a
comprehensive source of information about conf ormity assessment bodies (CABs) in the APEC
region such as testing, inspection, calibration, certification, accreditation, and mutual recognition.G/TBT/W/200
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IV. REGIONAL COLLABORATION PROGRAM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT SYSTEMS IN ASEAN COUNTRIES
5. As a follow-up measure on agreements in ASEAN+3 summit held in Singapore on
October 2000, Korea provided “Training program st andardisation and conformity assessment for
experts from ASEAN countries” in 2002.  This training program is aimed to raise the competency ofconformity assessment system in ASEAN countries in the fields of testing, inspection, and
quality/environment management, to the level of international standards and to facilitate
ASEAN countries’ more active participation in international mutual recognition arrangements
(MRAs) for conformity assessment.
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