Assessing Competitiveness In Moldova's Economy - Economic Growth

Development Alternatives, Inc. Moldova Competitiveness Assessment: Quality Assurance Infrastructure
The government should consider consolidating state-owned certification bodies, where possible in
some form under the DSM umbrella. This step would conserve resources and minimize the chances
of overregulating industries. It would also funnel needed resources to DSM to participate in
international certification and accreditation forums such as the international certification network
IQNET and others. DSM participation in such forums is critical for the mutual recognition of
certificates with target markets which would greatly facilitate trade and FDI.
Accreditation
According to the Law on Conformity Assessment, the Moldovan Accreditation Center is
authorized to accredit testing and calibration labs, product certification bodies, services
certification bodies, personnel of certification bodies, quality and environmental management
systems certification bodies, and inspection bodies. The Center was established in January of
2004, and is currently focused on accrediting labs, inspection bodies, and certification bodies
only.
The Accreditation Center applies EN45010 in its own operation, and to this date has
accredited 11 labs to ISO 17025, two inspection bodies to EN 45013, and several
certification bodies to EN45011.
Some in the private sector are still skeptical about the impartiality of the accreditation
department, and see the Center as still being part of DSM. However it is too early to pass
judgment on this issue. In any case, these concrete steps taken to lay down the law, establish
the Center, and apply international and EU standards in its operation constitute a step in the
right direction. The Center is a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Center
(ILAC).
The government should press on with these reforms, further support the Center to hire staff needed
and provide resources for subcontracting experts that can execute accreditation plans.
Market Surveillance
One of the most successful market surveillance models worldwide is the one established in
the United Kingdom (UK). The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the body responsible
for market surveillance in the UK. HSE has established 202 offices, trading standards
departments, in localities throughout the UK. They rely on internal specialists to survey the
market for products based on the inherent risk and established accident and health data. This
regime results in significantly lower fatalities and injuries from defective products than in
most developed countries of the world including the U.S. and the remainder of the EU. 8 The
HSE is just one example that shows that a single body responsible for market surveillance
8 Yvonne Halpaus, Partner, QNET LLC, Elk River, Minnesota. Website: http://www.ce-mark.com and
http://CEpartner4U.nl for the Authorized Representative office in The Netherlands.
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