Good Environmental Choice Australia
Ltd (GECA) formerly AELA, and the Korean Environmental Labelling
Association confirmed a Mutual Recognition Agreement on the 18
June 2004 in Seoul, South Korea. The agreement is aimed at
facilitating the trade and recognition of environmentally
preferable products between the two markets by streamlining the
application and verification processes for the national
ecolabelling programs for manufacturers in both regions.
The agreement aims at activating
international trade of environmentally-friendly products and
services by avoiding technical barrier effects inherent in national
certification systems and curtailing transaction cost imposed on
applicants who want to acquire foreign certification. For this
reason, international bodies including WTO, ISO, APEC, GEN etc.,
recommend and support MRA.
Download the Mutual Recognition Agreement
Korean Environmental Labelling Association Inc.
The Eco Label Program in Korea was
launched in 1992, and certifies environmentally-friendly products
considering life-cycle perspective. The certified products are
distinguished from other conventional products by reason of that
they prevent pollution, or save raw
materials and energy throughout the product life-cycle from
resource acquisition to production, recycling and disposal stage.
In addition to the environmental
preferability, Korea Environmental Labelling Association (KELA)
also considers the quality of the certified products. In this
regard, KELA incorporates quality criteria equivalent to
International Quality Standards and Korean Industrial Standards
into certification criteria. For more information visit the KELA
website
http://www.kela.or.kr/english/cover/cover.asp
