   
  
G/TBT/GEN/324  
 
28 March 2022 
(22-2561) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade    
 
THEMATIC  SESSION ON CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES  
(DIGITAL SOLUTIONS)  
8 MARCH 2022, 15:00 -18:00  
Moderator's Report1 
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At the Ninth Triennial Review, Members agreed to continue to hold thematic sessions in conjunction 
with its regular meetings during 2022 to 2024, with a view to further deepening the Committee's 
exchange of experiences on specific topics. On this basis, th e Committee agreed to hold a thematic 
session on conformity assessment procedures with a focus on digital solutions .2 Information about 
the speakers, presentations, and related material s are available  on the WTO website.3 
 
1  GUIDING QUESTIONS  
• How have new technologies enabled the adoption of digital solutions for conformity 
assessment? What is the role of the private sector and other stakeholders (NGOs, civil 
society, etc) here? What are the challenges for developing Members in the adoption and 
applicat ion of such digital solutions, given in particular costs, complexity and the ever -
evolving nature of new digital technologies?  
• How can digital legal, regulatory and technological approaches (e.g., blockchain, single 
window, e -transferrable records, remote conformity assessment, etc.) be implemented in 
accordance with core TBT principles and good regulatory practice?  What's the role in 
particular of international standard -setting activities here?  
• Electronic certificates of conformity are considered one of the possible digital solutions for 
improving conformity assessment. What have Members learned in their efforts to promote 
electronic certificates of conformity and other digital solutions? What to do, and what not to 
do? 
 
2  INTERVENTIONS  
2.1.  Dr. Wang Yunsong4 (China) presented on national quality infrastructure development and 
application in the context of digitalisation.  First, he said that d igital transformation  profoundly affects 
economic and social development. While the digitalization of industries is advan cing at a high speed, 
there is a digital divide between developed and developing countries that may bring new inequalities. 
Second, digital transformation puts new demands on government regulation. In the digital era, 
important changes in industrial organi zation and business models have brought about a series of 
cross-cutting issues that integrate the regulations of competition, finance, platform s and quality. At 
the same time, online shopping and cross -border e -commerce has changed the traditional consumer  
experience to such an extent that existing conformity assessment system s are not enough to deliver 
quality signals to consumers. Third, he said that there is an urgent need to innovate and upgrade 
 
1 Mr. Warren Merkel (United States). This Report is provided on the Moderator's own responsibility.  
2 G/TBT/46 . 
3 https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tbt_e/tbtts_e/tbtts080322pm_e.htm   
4 Deputy Director -Genera l of the Quality Development Bureau of the State Administration for Market 
Regulation of China.  G/TBT/GEN/324  
 
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  the quality infrastructure to provide the fundamental tech nical rules in the context of digitalization 
and to assist in opening the evolutionary path of scientific and technological innovations.  
2.2.  Dr. Lucian Cernat5 (European Union) elaborated on the role of new technologies in facilitating 
international trade  using the case of electronic certificates. He highlighted the key digitalization 
challenges for CAPs: (i) h ow to operate in a world where products are increasingly digital ; (ii) h ow 
to embrace new digital technologies to enhance CAPs; (iii) h ow to meet incre asing demand for 
quality, safety and traceability from global consumer s; (iv) h ow to move towards a more circular 
economy ; and (v) h ow to adapt to post-COVID -19 realities that accelerated the adoption of 
disruptive technologies . Despite these challenging developments, he said, CAPs are evolving  and 
getting smarter  (for example, emergence and use of "smart laboratories ", blockchain technologies, 
sensors, big data,  cloud computing, real -time information ). Digital tools are needed to enable 
conformity assessment to tackle new challenges, such as enabling market surveillance over  an 
update of embedded software in a smart device.  In this context, he noted that the Euro pean Union 
has been promo ting a digital agenda for years  which builds upon cloud computing, big data, artificial 
intelligence , providing a legal background to allow for the gradual deployment  of these digital 
technologies.   
2.3.  Despite the rapid technological developments, the vast majority of trade procedures are still 
paper -intensive.  For example, shipping a container from Mombasa to Rotterdam generates a pile of 
paper 25 cm tall. As such, it is important to explore technological solutions for up grading  national 
quality infrastructure (e.g., blockchain  platform are one option that would allow to  create the digital 
infrastructure for the trusted exchange of digital certificates).  
2.4.  Mr. Lin Feng6 (China) presented a solution for conformity assessment digitalisat ion based on 
blockchain technology. He elaborated on three main benefits of using blockchain technology for 
conformity assessment  digitalization .  
2.5.  First, blockchain technology promotes the digital transformation of conformity assessment. 
Conformity assessment is normally performed by people , and, therefore, the results of conformity 
assessment can be affected by personal subjective judgement. Blockchain technology can shift the 
method  of manual collection of audit fi ndings and data towards  automatic data collection through 
information system and sensors to improve authenticity and objectivity of conformity assessment 
process. This could increase trust in the data and confidence in the conformity assessment bodies.  
2.6.  Second, blockchain technology  promotes the digital transformation of conformity assessment 
pattern s. A traditional trust -building paradigm for conformity assessment process is based on 
credibility of conformity assessment bodies. Blockchain technology can be used for developing  a new 
trust-building paradigm. In particular, additional machinery verification can supplement the 
traditional institutional identification. New conformity assessment patter ns can also provide 
customized service for enterprises by demon strating additional attribute s of a product other than 
simple compliance to the standard.   
2.7.  Third, blockchain technology  promotes the digital transformation of conformity assessment 
supervision. In the current practice, regulatory authorities , including acc reditation bodies, mainly 
conduct spot check s on the record of the conformity assessment process, but sometimes the record 
cannot fully reflect details of the conformity assessment process. Blockchain technology can be used 
for requiring conformity assessm ent bodies to automatically generate unique hash value  of 
conformity certificates, process information and  upload  it to the chain . This would potentially 
eliminate the occurrence of fraudulent record s and false certificates. As such, the use of blockchain 
technology could change  supervision pattern s and help to achieve  cost and time efficiency.  
 
5 Head of Global Regulatory Cooperation and International Procurement Negotiations, European 
Commission, DG Trade.  
6 Deputy director, China Certification & Accreditation Institute, State Administration for Market 
Regulation.  G/TBT/GEN/324  
 
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  2.8.  Ms. Gabi Kimura7 (European Union) introduced  the TÜV Rheinland  system that provides online 
access to conformity assessment certificate information , called Certipedia . TÜV Rheinland  is a global 
testing certification provider  that holds over 750 accreditations. TÜV Rheinland  decided to launch 
Certipedia  as an online certificate database portal  that allows for easy verification of conformity 
assessment  certificates . It is publicly accessible  and is intended to be used by different stakeholders, 
including regulatory authorities, manufacturers and customers.  Certipedia  has almost 600 ,000 valid 
certificates, most of which  are product certificates.  
2.9.  Mr. Mat t Gantley8 (United Kingdom) introduced IAF CertSearch  and its role in supporting  
market confidence.  IAF CertSearch  is an o nline database launched in 2020 that contains the largest 
and most up -to-date collection of accredited management systems certificate s in the world . It allows 
users to validate individual management systems certificates  from any economy, in any language, 
in real time. The database s upports the mutual recognition of management systems in a 
cost-effective and efficient manner, supporting trade and consumer protection. In addition, it 
supports the principal objective of IAF, that is "certified once, accepted everywhere".  
2.10.  He further noted that the growth of private databases slows down the process o f validating a 
management system certificate. In this regard, he explained that the main advantage  of IAF 
CertSearch  is that  it brings all information together in one place allowing validation to happen in 
seconds. While IAF CertSearch  is a voluntary model  and contains only 34 % of the potential 
management systems certificates , it has the potential to become a global central point of fast and 
up-to-date verification and a vital tool for regulators, certification and accreditation bodies. The 
priorities for t he IAF in this regard would be to (i) maximize participation; (ii) ensure a sustainable 
funding mechanism; (iii) ensure full protection of the data; (iv) encourage data interoperability and 
cross-referencing across databases; and (v) support developing nat ions to participate in this 
database.  
2.11.  Mr. Brett Hyland9 (Australia)  described f oundations for future digital product conformity 
systems . In his presentation, he focused on the identification problem in the supply chain. He said 
that conformity assessment  certificates are not linked to the physical delivery of the products due 
to the prevailing use of paper documents. Any lack of clear identification of the product, he said, is 
an opportunity for documentation fraud or for a product substitution.  
2.12.  He then described one Australian response to this issue. For example, InfraBuild , a private 
steel company, attaches a physical tag  with a QR code , backed by a common data matrix, to each 
delivered bundle of steel that contains detailed information about the produc t delivered (reference 
to the manufacturer, product code, batch number, test report, delivery docket). Because data matrix 
is ISO/IEC -based, any technology will be able to uniquely read this information and share with other 
systems.  
2.13.  Mr. Lai Wei10 (China) presented on the i mplement ation of  digital engineering certification 
and testing to promote the high-quality development of engineering construction.  He explained that 
JCC is a certification and testing body in China.  
2.14.   According to his presentation, d igital engineering has penetrated into all aspects of the 
engineering construction  industry value chain. However, the quality control link is incomplete, and 
there is a lack of  conformity assessment methods such as testing and certification to ensure the 
digital construction of projects and the quality of digital assets in buildings, and to transmit trust.  In 
this context, he introduce d the history and development achievements o f digital engineering 
certification and testing in China.  He said that  digital engineering certification had been carried out 
for more than 60 projects to protect the quality of engineering construction.  
2.15.  Some challenges  in this field include  the need to ad d digital certification and testing -related 
content  to the existing conformity assessment system . Opportunities include the possibility  to build  
 
7 Senior Marketing Manager, Int ernational Marketing, TÜV Rheinland.  
8 Chief Executive, United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS); Chair, International Accreditation 
Forum Database Management Committee (IAF Cert Search).  
9 Stakeholder Engagement Manager – National Association of Test ing Authorities Australia (NATA).  
10 Chief Expert of Digital Engineering in Beijing ZhongJianXie Certification Centre Co., Ltd (JCC).  G/TBT/GEN/324  
 
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  an all -round, all -factor international digital conformity assessment system on a global scale to serve 
the high -quality development of engineering construction.  
3  DISCUSSION  
3.1.  The discussion  was focused on th e following  issues: (i) what are the benefits of implementing 
digital technologies in conformity assessment; (ii) what are some of the main obstacles related to 
implementing digital technologies in conformity assessment; and (iii) what can be done to address 
those obstacles.  
3.2.  With respect to the first issue, participants said that d igitization had several benefits, including: 
(i) a levelling effect  that enables  smaller companies and conformity assessment bodies  to compete ; 
(ii) reduction of fraud and product substitution, better integrity in s upply chain ; (iii) greater data 
quality; ( iv) simplified access to and analysis of the data; ( v) simplified confirmation of authenticity 
of certificates; and (v i) improved objectivity, transparency, traceability of conformity assessment.  
There was also dis cussion on how regulatory authorities can make use of online databases presented 
to authenticate certificates.   
3.3.  With respect to the second issue, participants said that many developing countries lack digital 
technologies and infrastructure.  Similarly, part icipants flagged that smaller companies could  lag in 
adopting digital solutions. The underlying complexity of the technologies in question, and the 
difficulty in ensuring high quality data, present addition obstacles. Certain technological challenges 
for assessing  conformity were discussed: e.g.,  blockchain technology (interoperability, legal basis, 
acceptance by regulators) and 3D Printing (data quality, different uses entailing different risks).   
3.4.  With respect to the third issue, participants said that the national quality infrastructure should 
be used for implementing digital solutions for conformity assessment. In addition, it was noted that 
governments need to clearly define their strategy with respect to digital solutions for conformity 
assessment . In a ddition, participants said that it is also important to promote research on 
digitalization of conformity assessment to develop trust and common international approaches . 
4  COMMENT BY THE MODERATOR  
4.1.  We heard clearly that progress in the area of digital technologies and solutions for CAP largely 
depends on innovation and upgrading the national quality infrastructure. Digitization can have a 
levelling effect, allowing smaller companies and CABs to showcase services and compete worldwide. 
However, many deve loping countries lack digital infrastructure and lag in uptake of these 
technologies, so we need to find ways to overcome this digital divide.  
4.2.  Despite rapid technological developments, trade procedures are still paper -intensive and with 
lots of red tape – we heard that shipping a container from Mombasa to Rotterdam still generates a 
pile of paper 25 cm tall. We saw useful examples of how online databases of certificates enable 
stakeholders, including regulators, to verify the authenticity of certificates in  a swift and secure 
manner. Another interesting example showcased efforts to connect various conformity assessment 
documents (such as test reports, inspection reports and product certificates) to the physical product 
through a QR code, backed by a common d ata matrix. This approach still works in a fully paper -
based environment and could thus allow different Members to move at different paces.  
4.3.  Digital technologies and solutions can help improve the objectivity, transparency of CAP and 
provide better integrit y in supply chain. They can also support the acceptance and recognition of 
conformity assessment results, towards the vision of "tested, certified once, accepted everywhere". 
Yet, in today's market, conformity assessment must tackle increasingly complex ch allenges. For 
instance, in the area of medical products, how can market surveillance authorities verify that a 
software update to a medical device will not endanger patient safety. 3D Printing also presents novel 
conformity assessment challenges as "printi ng" instructions (software) and their results (the actual 
physical "printing") both take place in different places and times, and entail different risks.   
4.4.  Blockchain technology could be employed as one tool for digitalization of conformity 
assessment, prov iding real -time access to conformity data, and support post -market activities as 
well. But we would need to overcome certain barriers holding back this technology, such the lack of 
interoperability between platforms, lack of legal footing and absence of re gulatory cooperation. We G/TBT/GEN/324  
 
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  heard about innovative approaches in the construction industry, using digital engineering to facilitate 
conformity assessment. Other industries, like aerospace, automotive, food and telecoms, are also 
driving forward digital soluti ons. 
4.5.  The key to unlocking the potential of digital solutions for conformity assessment is building up 
the requisite level of trust among Members and other stakeholders. It is clear that there is a lot 
more work to be done in this space, and the TBT Committ ee will have a vital role to play . 
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