The 1999 Agreement on dismantling technical barriers to trade (Mutual Recognition Agreement – MRA) calls for the mutual recognition by Switzerland and the European Union (EU) of conformity tests for industrial products.

Conformity tests determine whether a product meets current standards and is therefore suitable for introduction on the market. The MRA ensures that the necessary certification and admission processes to allow products onto the market need to be carried out only once. It guarantees Swiss economic actors in 20 product categories the same conditions for access to the European single market as their competitors in the EU. Swiss companies can therefore benefit from lower costs and save time.

Chronology

2007

• Entry into force of the amended Agreement (01.02.2007)

2002

• Entry into force of the Agreement (01.06.2002)

2000

• Approval of the Agreement by the electorate in the popular vote on Bilaterals I (67.2% in favour) (21.05.2000)

1999

• Signing of the Agreement (in the framework of Bilaterals I) (21.06.1999)

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