| Executive summary |
| 1 | | Equivalence and mutual recognition as trade facilitation tools |
| | 1.1 | | Divergent regulatory systems and world trade |
| | 1.2 | | Trade facilitation tools - the different concepts |
| | 1.2.1 | | Harmonization |
| | 1.2.2 | | Equivalence |
| | 1.2.3 | | Mutual recognition |
| | 1.2.4 | | Work on equivalence and mutual recognition in international organizations |
| | 1.3 | | Methods and available empirical data |
| | 1.4 | | The structure of the report |
| 2 | | Equivalence and mutual recognition in the WTO and the CAC |
| | 2.1 | | Introduction |
| | 2.2 | | The work on mutual recognition and equivalence in the WTO |
| | 2.2.1 | | The SPS and TBT Agreements under the WTO |
| | 2.2.2 | | Sanitary and phytosanitary measures vs. technical food measures |
| | 2.2.3 | | The SPS Committee's work on equivalence |
| | 2.2.4 | | The TBT Committee's work on mutual recognition and equivalence |
| | 2.3 | | The work on equivalence and mutual recognition in the Codex Alimentarius Commission |
| | 2.3.1 | | The CCFICS work on equivalence and mutual recognition guidelines for TBT measures |
| | 2.3.2 | | Work on equivalence and mutual recognition in other international organizations |
| | 2.4 | | A short assessment of the international work |
| 3 | | Examples of equivalence and mutual recognition in food and non-food trade arrangements |
| | 3.1 | | Introduction |
| | 3.2 | | Mutual Recognition and Equivalence in the Organic Food Sector |
| | 3.2.1 | | International initiatives: IFOAM, Codex, UNCTAD and FAO |
| | 3.2.2 | | Examples of mutual recognition and equivalence of organic foods |
| | 3.3 | | Mutual recognition and equivalence in agreements covering seafood trade |
| | 3.4 | | Mutual recognition arrangements in The Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation |
| | 3.5 | | India's work on food agreements involving recognition and/or equivalence |
| | 3.6 | | Examples of mutual recognition and equivalence in non-food arrangements |
| | 3.6.1 | | The Mutual Recognition Agreement between the European Community and the United States |
| | 3.6.2 | | The Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement |
| | 3.7 | | The process towards equivalence acceptance and mutual recognition - conditions for success |
| | 3.7.1 | | Cost-benefit analysis |
| | 3.7.2 | | Compatibility of regulatory systems and resources available |
| | 3.7.3 | | Scope of the agreements |
| | 3.7.4 | | Building capacity and trust |
| | 3.7.5 | | Learning from experience |
| | 3.8 | | A short assessment of the empirical findings |
| 4 | | Mutual recognition and equivalence of technical measures: Some critical points |
| | 4.1 | | Introduction |
| | 4.2 | | Clarification of central concepts |
| | 4.2.1 | | Regulations and standards vs. conformity assessment procedures |
| | 4.2.2 | | Equivalence assessments vs. mutual recognition |
| | 4.3 | | Application of equivalence on technical food regulations and standards |
| | 4.3.1 | | ALOP vs. other legitimate objectives |
| | 4.3.2 | | Performance criteria vs. descriptive characteristics |
| | 4.3.3 | | Private vs. governmental initiatives |
| | 4.4 | | Some final remarks on achieving equivalence and mutual recognition |
| 5 | | Assessments and concluding comments |
| | 5.1 | | Introduction |
| | 5.2 | | How relevant are equivalence and mutual recognition as trade-facilitating tools in a TBT context? |
| | 5.2.1 | | SPS and TBT work on equivalence as parallel or separate "paths"? |
| | 5.2.2 | | Thresholds for achieving equivalence: a pragmatic approach |
| | 5.2.3 | | The role of developing countries |
| | 5.3 | | Comments on pursuing the work on international guidance |
| | 5.3.1 | | Co-ordinated efforts by international organizations |
| | 5.3.2 | | Co-ordinated national initiatives |
| | 5.3.3 | | Information sharing and confidence building at the international level |
| | 5.4 | | Harmonization, equivalence and mutual recognition as complimentary tools |
| Sources and suggested reading |
| Annex |
