Papua New Guinea is working to strengthen its domestic accreditation system in a move that could make it easier and less expensive for local companies to meet international export standards.
The National Institute of Standards and Industrial Technology (NISIT) is developing a proposed Conformity Assessment Body Accreditation Scheme designed to provide internationally recognised accreditation services within Papua New Guinea.
The initiative is being led by NISIT Manager of Conformity Assessment Bodies Jeremiah Smith following his participation in a six-week Australian-supported Trade Policy Short Course.
The program combined trade-policy training, negotiation exercises and engagement with government, industry and trade specialists.
Smith said stronger links between standards, accreditation, metrology and conformity assessment could help Papua New Guinea businesses meet international requirements and reduce technical barriers to trade.
Papua New Guinea companies currently may need to use overseas certification providers to demonstrate compliance with international standards. Developing reliable domestic accreditation capability could reduce both the cost and complexity of that process.
This is particularly important for agriculture and processed food exports, where importing countries typically impose strict requirements around food safety, product quality, testing and traceability.
Mining, oil and gas and environmental reporting could also benefit from internationally recognised certification and testing services based in Papua New Guinea.
NISIT’s proposed scheme would aim to support certification, inspection, testing and other conformity assessment services within the country.
The project includes developing accreditation schemes aligned with international standards, building technical expertise inside NISIT and increasing understanding of accreditation among businesses and government organisations.
Papua New Guinea has long sought to move beyond exporting raw commodities towards producing more processed and higher-value goods. Meeting the technical requirements of export markets is an essential part of that transition.
For small and medium enterprises in particular, the cost and complexity of international certification can be a substantial barrier to entering new markets.
The Australian-supported program forms part of wider efforts under the Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership to strengthen trade, investment and the systems that support private-sector development.
A functioning internationally recognised accreditation framework could ultimately help Papua New Guinea exporters compete with greater confidence while making the country’s trade infrastructure more attractive to investors.
