This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
EU–Switzerland mutual recognition agreement (MRA)
Decision 2002/309/EC, Euratom on the conclusion of seven Agreements with Switzerland
The mutual recognition agreement (MRA)* aims to promote trade in goods between the European Community (now the EU) and Switzerland by removing technical barriers. Under the bilateral agreement that EU countries approved on 21 June 1999, the EU and Switzerland accept the conformity assessment* results each carries out for specified industrial products. It is a comprehensive agreement based on the equivalence of Switzerland’s legislation to that of EU. It covers the recognition of conformity assessments irrespective of the origin of the products, except for Chapter 15 on Medicinal products, GMP Inspection and Batch Certification. This type of MRA agreement is usually referred to as an ‘Enhanced MRA’. However, the case of Switzerland remains quite unique.
The decision adopts the mutual recognition agreement as part of a package of 7 agreements with Switzerland.
The agreement covers the following product sectors:
Main features of the agreement:
This agreement entered into force only following ratification of all the following 7 agreements between the EU and Switzerland:
The agreement entered into force on 1 June 2002.
In their resolution of 21 December 1989, EU governments agreed the principles of MRAs. On 21 September 1992, they authorised the European Commission to negotiate mutual recognition agreements on behalf of the EU with certain non-EU countries.
For more information, see:
Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on mutual recognition in relation to conformity assessment — Final Act — Joint Declarations — Information relating to the entry into force of the seven Agreements with the Swiss Confederation in the sectors free movement of persons, air and land transport, public procurement, scientific and technological cooperation, mutual recognition in relation to conformity assessment, and trade in agricultural products (OJ L 114, 30.4.2002, pp. 369-429)
Successive amendments to the Agreement have been incorporated in the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
Decision 2002/309/EC, Euratom of the Council, and of the Commission as regards the Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, of 4 April 2002 on the conclusion of seven Agreements with the Swiss Confederation (OJ L 114, 30.4.2002, pp. 1-5)
Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other, on the free movement of persons — Final Act — Joint Declarations — Information relating to the entry into force of the seven Agreements with the Swiss Confederation in the sectors free movement of persons, air and land transport, public procurement, scientific and technological cooperation, mutual recognition in relation to conformity assessment, and trade in agricultural products (OJ L 353, 31.12.2009, pp. 71-90)
See consolidated version.
Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on Air Transport — Final Act — Joint Declarations — Information relating to the entry into force of the seven Agreements with the Swiss Confederation in the sectors free movement of persons, air and land transport, public procurement, scientific and technological cooperation, mutual recognition in relation to conformity assessment, and trade in agricultural products (OJ L 114, 30.4.2002, pp. 73-90)
See consolidated version.
Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Carriage of Goods and Passengers by Rail and Road — Final Act — Joint Declarations — Information relating to the entry into force of the seven Agreements with the Swiss Confederation in the sectors free movement of persons, air and land transport, public procurement, scientific and technological cooperation, mutual recognition in relation to conformity assessment, and trade in agricultural products (OJ L 114, 30.4.2002, pp. 91-131)
See consolidated version.
Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products — Final Act — Joint Declarations — Information relating to the entry into force of the seven Agreements with the Swiss Confederation in the sectors free movement of persons, air and land transport, public procurement, scientific and technological cooperation, mutual recognition in relation to conformity assessment, and trade in agricultural products (OJ L 114, 30.4.2002, pp. 132-368)
See consolidated version.
Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on mutual recognition in relation to conformity assessment — Final Act — Joint Declarations — Information relating to the entry into force of the seven Agreements with the Swiss Confederation in the sectors free movement of persons, air and land transport, public procurement, scientific and technological cooperation, mutual recognition in relation to conformity assessment, and trade in agricultural products (OJ L 114, 30.4.2002, pp. 369-429)
See consolidated version.
Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on certain aspects of government procurement — Final Act — Joint Declarations — Information relating to the entry into force of the seven Agreements with the Swiss Confederation in the sectors free movement of persons, air and land transport, public procurement, scientific and technological cooperation, mutual recognition in relation to conformity assessment, and trade in agricultural products (OJ L 114, 30.4.2002, pp. 430-467)
See consolidated version.
Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations (1986-1994) — Annex 1 — Annex 1A — Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (WTO-GATT 1994) (OJ L 336, 23.12.1994, pp. 86-99)
Agreement on the European Economic Area — Final Act — Joint Declarations — Declarations by the Governments of the Member States of the Community and the EFTA States — Arrangements — Agreed Minutes — Declarations by one or several of the Contracting Parties of the Agreement on the European Economic Area (OJ L 1, 3.1.1994, pp. 3-522)
See consolidated version.
Council Resolution of 21 December 1989 on a global approach to conformity assessment (OJ C 10, 16.1.1990, pp. 1-2)
Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Swiss Confederation — Protocol No 1 concerning the treatment applicable to certain products — Protocol No 2 concerning products subject to special arrangements to take account of differences in the cost of agricultural products incorporated therein — Protocol No 3 concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation — Protocol No 4 concerning certain provisions relating to Ireland — Protocol No 5 concerning the treatment that may be applied by Switzerland to imports of certain products subject to the scheme for building up compulsory reserves — Final Act — Joint Declarations — Unilateral Declarations (OJ L 300, 31.12.1972, pp. 189-280)
See consolidated version.
last update 24.07.2018