Papua New Guinea’s Compliance vs Regulatory Requirements: A Delicate Balance

In Papua New Guinea, the National Institute of Standards and Industrial Technology (NISIT) plays a crucial role in ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements while promoting trade facilitation. As the country’s national standards body, NISIT is responsible for developing and implementing technical standards that govern various aspects of commerce.

Challenges in Compliance

However, NISIT lacks product testing capabilities, leaving each regulatory body to take responsibility for testing and certification within their area of expertise. This can create challenges for businesses operating in the country. For instance:

• The National Fisheries Authority has its own set of testing requirements based on Codex, ISO, and EU Directives that fish products must meet before export.
• NISIT does not deal with technical regulations, instead providing advice on how to apply required standards within regulatory frameworks.

Staying Informed

To stay informed about proposed technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures, stakeholders can utilize ePing, an online platform provided by the World Trade Organization (WTO). The platform offers access to notifications made by WTO member countries under the Agreements on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT).

Notify U.S.

Meanwhile, Notify U. S., a service operated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), has reached its end-of-life. As a result:

• All comment submissions from U. S. stakeholders should be sent directly to the USA WTO TBT Inquiry Point.

Understanding Compliance Requirements

In Papua New Guinea, it is essential for businesses to understand compliance requirements versus regulatory requirements to avoid costly delays or penalties. The NISIT can provide guidance on standards and regulations, but ultimately:

• It is up to each business to ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.

Contact Information

For more information or guidance on standards and regulations in Papua New Guinea, please contact:

National Institute of Standards & Industrial Technology P.O Box 3042 Level 1, Boroko Post Office Building Nita Street, Boroko, Port Moresby 121 National Capital District, Papua New Guinea

Phone: +(675) 323 1852 Fax: +(675) 325 8793