Technical barriers to trade
Conformity assessment procedures provide assurance that products meet relevant regulatory requirements. Examples of conformity assessment procedures are testing, certification and inspection. Some products require conformity assessment procedures to be carried out by third-party organisations called conformity assessment bodies ("CABs"). Some of the UK’s legislation requires these CABs to be based in the UK, Great Britain, or in a country with which the UK has a mutual recognition agreement.
	When the CPTPP enters into force for the UK, the UK is required by Article 8.6 of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, as it is incorporated into the CPTPP, to ensure that CABs established in the territories of CPTPP Parties are treated no less favourably than CABs located domestically. To comply with this obligation, the UK must amend its legislation to allow CABs established in CPTPP Parties (for which the CPTPP is in force as between the UK and that Party) to apply for approval to carry out conformity assessment for the Great British market. The Act therefore confers a power on the Secretary of State to amend relevant legislation to enable this to occur.