1. monitoring the implementation and administration of this Chapter, including the progress of the subcommittees and working groups established under paragraph 4, and the operation of the inquiry points established under Article 910;
2. facilitating the process by which the Parties make compatible their standards-related measures;
3. providing a forum for the Parties to consult on issues relating to standards-related measures, including the provision of technical advice and recommendations under Article 914;
4. enhancing cooperation on the development, application and enforcement of standards-related measures; and
5. considering non-governmental, regional and multilateral developments regarding standards-related measures, including under the GATT.

Article 913.3: The Committee shall:

1. meet on request of any Party and, unless the Parties otherwise agree, at least once each year; and
2. report annually to the Commission on the implementation of this Chapter.

Article 913.4: The Committee may, as it considers appropriate, establish and determine the scope and mandate of subcommittees or working groups, comprising representatives of each Party. Each subcommittee or working group may:

1. as it considers necessary or desirable, include or consult with
   1. representatives of non-governmental bodies, including standardizing bodies;
   2. scientists; and
   3. technical experts; and
2. determine its work program, taking into account relevant international activities.

Article 913.5: Further to 913.4, the Committee shall establish:

1. the following subcommittees
   1. Land Transportation Standards Subcommittee, in accordance with Annex 913.5.a-1;
   2. Telecommunications Standards Subcommittee, in accordance with Annex 913.5.a-2;
   3. Automotive Standards Council, in accordance with Annex 913.5.a-3; and
   4. Subcommittee on Labeling of Textile and Apparel Goods, in accordance with Annex 913.5.a-4; and
2. such other subcommittees or working groups as it considers appropriate to address any topic, including:
   1. identification and nomenclature for goods subject to standards-related measures,
   2. quality and identity standards and technical regulations;
   3. packaging, labeling and presentation of consumer information, including languages, measurement systems, ingredients, sizes, terminology, symbols and related matters;
   4. product approval and post-market surveillance programs;
   5. principles for the accreditation and recognition of conformity assessment bodies, procedures and systems;
   6. development and implementation of a uniform chemical hazard classification and communication system;
   7. enforcement programs, including training and inspections by regulatory, analytical and enforcement personnel;
   8. promotion and implementation of good laboratory practices;
   9. promotion and implementation of good manufacturing practices;
   10. criteria for assessment of potential environmental hazards of goods;
   11. methodologies for assessment of risk;
   12. guidelines for testing of chemicals, including industrial and agricultural chemicals, pharmaceuticals and biologicals;
   13. methods by which consumer protection, including matters relating to consumer redress, can be facilitated; and
   14. extension of the application of this Chapter to other services.

Article 913.6: Each Party shall, on request of another Party, take such reasonable measures as may be available to it to provide for the participation in the activities of the Committee, where and as appropriate, of representatives of state or provincial governments.

Article 3: To achieve the objective outlined in the preceding article, the System shall:

1. coordinate, develop and harmonize at the sub-regional level activities and services for standardization, testing, accreditation, certification, technical regulation and metrology within the priorities of the integration process;
2. provide the technical elements that are required for the consideration or approval of technical regulations;
3. consider aspects of security, health, environmental conservation and consumer protection in the development of its activities; and
4. direct, at the subregional and international level, the progress of the Andean Community in this area and promote the conclusion of international agreements and treaties.

Article 4: All standardization, accreditation, testing, certification, technical regulations and metrological activities that comprise the System shall apply to all products and services that are manufactured or traded within the subregion, without consideration to phytosanitary or zoosanitary aspects, or other aspects that are found already regulated by a particular Decision. These activities are coordinated with the competent national organizations designated by law in each Member Country. (Decision 376)

Article 13: The Committee shall establish and send to the Board for its approval the procedures for harmonization, elaboration, notification, manner of registration and structure of Andean standards. (Decision 376)

1. monitoring the implementation, compliance and administration of this Chapter, including the progress of the subcommittees and working groups established under paragraph 14-17.4, and the operation of the inquiry points established under 14-10.1;
2. facilitating the process by which the Parties make compatible their standards-related measures;
3. offering a forum for the Parties to consult on issues related to standards-related measures and metrology;
4. reporting annually to the commission about the implementation of this chapter; and
5. developing necessary procedural mechanisms for achieving recognition of conformity assessment bodies.

Article 14-17.3: The Committee:

1. shall be comprised of an equal number of representatives from each Party;
2. shall meet on request of any Party and, unless the Parties otherwise agree, at least once a year;
3. shall establish its regulations; and
4. make its decisions by consensus.

Article 14-17.4: The Committee shall, as it considers appropriate, establish and determine the scope of action and mandate of any relevant subcommittees or working groups. Each subcommittee and working group shall be comprised of representatives from each Party, and may

1. as it considers necessary, call to participate in its meetings or consult with
   1. representatives of non-governmental bodies, including standardizing bodies, or chambers and associations of the private sector;
   2. scientists; or
   3. technical experts; and
2. determine its work program, taking into account relevant international activities.

Article 14-17.5: Further to paragraph 14-17.4 the Committee shall establish

1. the Subcommittee of Standards-Related Measures of Health; and
2. any other subcommittee and working group that it considers appropriate for analyzing, among others, the following topics:
   1. the identification and nomenclature for goods subject to standards-related measures;
   2. quality and identity standards and technical regulations;
   3. packaging, labeling and presentation of consumer information, including measurement systems, ingredients, sizes, terminology, symbols and related matters;
   4. product approval and post-market surveillance programs;
   5. principles for the accreditation and recognition of test centers, inspection bodies, and conformity assessment bodies;
   6. development and implementation of a uniform classification and information system for hazardous chemicals and the communication of chemical hazards;
   7. programs to ensure fulfillment of existing provisions, including training and inspections by regulatory, analytical, and enforcement personnel;
   8. promotion and implementation of good laboratory practices;
   9. promotion and implementation of good manufacturing practices;
   10. criteria for assessment of potential environmental hazards of goods or services;
   11. analysis of procedures to simplify the importation requirements of goods and the provision of certain services;
   12. guidelines for testing of chemicals, including industrial and agricultural chemicals, pharmaceuticals and biologicals; and
   13. methods by which consumer protection, including matters relating to consumer redress, can be facilitated.

1. to program regional actions planned under the present Agreement;
2. to help coordinate subregional initiatives within this area;
3. to help coordinate the activities carried out under technical assistance and information programs referred to in Chapter VI (Technical Assistance) and Chapter VII (Information and Dissemination), analyzing and endorsing even the advisability and viability of promoting such events as seminars and round tables;
4. to set up working groups to consider specific topics within the scope of this Agreement;
5. to promote the actions that are needed to make mutual recognition of conformity assessment systems viable pursuant to articles 8 and 12 of this Agreement;
6. to promote, to the extent possible, joint positions of signatory countries at international forums concerned with technical regulations, technical standards, and conformity assessment.

II.7: "The functions of the Standards Council shall be to :

1. promote the harmonisation of Standards and to recommend and coordinate the formulation and adoption of Standards for products which are of importance to intra-regional trade;
2. review the progress of, and assist Member countries in the development of National Standards bureaux;
3. advise on the development of regional testing facilities for evaluation of the quality and standards of products used in the Region and to advise on the suitability of regional testing facilities for the enforcement of regional standards;
4. advise on the coordination of testing methods and quality evaluation and certification procedures among Member Countries;
5. advise the Common Market Council on the technical significance and on the implications for intra-regional trade arising from the adoption of any proposed mandatory standard by a Member State of the Common Market;
6. on request by the Common Market Council, investigate and make recommendations on matters involving difficulties related to standards of regionally produced goods entering into intra-regional trade;
7. on request, determine the quality and advise on the acceptability of extra-regional products;
8. cooperate with international organisations dealing with Standards;
9. assist national Governments in developing, promoting and achieving standards particularly of new commodities for extra-regional exports;
10. issue in conjunction with appropriate National Bodies information for the education of the Region’s consumers and producers on the entire question of standards in general and on the quality and acceptability of regionally produced products in particular, vis-avis imported substitutes;
11. to recommend to the Common Market Council a common set of primary metrological standards for adoption by the Common Market members;
12. undertake any other related function as the Council may, from time to time determine."

II.8: "The Standards Council is empowered to make recommendations only."

Article 11.2: Members shall, if requested, advise other Members, especially the developing country Members, and shall grant them technical assistance on mutually agreed terms and conditions regarding the establishment of national standardizing bodies, and participation in the international standardizing bodies, and shall encourage their national standardizing bodies to do likewise.

Articles 11.3 and 11.4: Members shall, if requested, take such reasonable measures as may be available to them to arrange for the regulatory bodies within their territories to advise other Members, especially the developing country Members, and shall grant them technical assistance on mutually agreed terms and conditions regarding:

1. the establishment of regulatory bodies, or bodies for the assessment of conformity with technical regulations (Art. 11.3) and/or standards (Art. 11.4); and
2. the methods by which their technical regulations can best be met.

Articles 11.5 and 11.6: Members shall, if requested, advise other Members, especially the developing country Members, and shall grant them technical assistance on mutually agreed terms and conditions regarding the steps that should be taken by their producers if they wish to have access to systems for conformity assessment operated by governmental or non-governmental bodies within the territory of the Member receiving the request (Art. 11.5 and the establishment of the institutions and legal framework which would enable them to fulfil the obligations of membership or participation in such systems (Art. 11.6).

Article 11.7: Members shall, if so requested, encourage bodies within their territories which are members or participants of international or regional systems for conformity assessment to advise other Members, especially the developing country Members, and should consider requests for technical assistance from them regarding the establishment of the institutions which would enable the relevant bodies within their territories to fulfil the obligations of membership or participation.

1. provide to that Party technical advice, information and assistance on mutually agreed terms and conditions to enhance that Party's standards-related measures, and related activities, processes and systems;
2. provide to that Party information on its technical cooperation programs regarding standards-related measures relating to specific areas of interest; and
3. consult with that Party during the development of, or prior to the adoption or change in the application of, any standards-related measure.

The principal purpose of the technical assistance will be to help the signatory countries to achieve the necessary conditions that permit them to fulfill and adhere to the provisions of this Agreement as well as its application and implementation.

Article 30: The "Andean Network of Metrology" is hereby created, which shall be comprised by institutions or organizations that perform metrological activities and by calibration laboratories accredited by the National Accreditation Bodies. The rules governing the function of the Network shall be established by the committee and sent to the Board for approval. (Decision 376)

Article 31: The Member Countries shall harmonize the standards, regulations and metrological procedures at the Andean level that form the basis for the patterns and calibration systems. The harmonization procedures shall be established by the Committee and sent to the Board for its authorization. (Decision 376)

Article 14-17.2: Among the functions that will correspond to the Committee:

3. offering a forum for the Parties to consult on issues related to standards-related measures and metrology.