Guangxi strengthens cooperation in inspection and certification with HK

The Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre (STC) has greatly promoted Guangxi products and brands to expand their presence in international markets since 2019.

STC was established in 1963 as Hong Kong's first independent and not-for-profit testing, inspection, and certification organization. It has gained recognition from national accreditation bodies and organizations worldwide, such as those in China, the Unite States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and Canada, for ensuring product safety and quality compliance.

According to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), the Administration for Market Regulation of Guangxi and STC jointly set up the China-ASEAN High-tech Service Cluster of Inspection, Testing, and Certification, a demonstration base that is being constructed in three phases and has started operating its first phase in June 2019.

Last year, the Administration for Market Regulation of Guangxi and STC conducted training for more than 800 large and medium-sized enterprises at the base to help companies learn international advanced quality management concepts, providing Guangxi enterprises with international, market-oriented, and professional inspection, testing, as well as certification services to help more Guangxi products explore international markets.

After one year of cooperation, the two parties have established a 5,000-square meter testing laboratory for food, agricultural products, and Chinese medicinal materials. More than 40 million yuan ($5.66 million) has been invested for the improvement of testing capacity, the increase of various high-end inspection and testing equipment, as well as the introduction of high-end talents.

The lab helped 130 products of 111 Guangxi enterprises obtain high-quality certifications of Hong Kong in 2019, such as Liubao Tea and jasmine tea, as well as helped 30 companies apply for them in 2020.