Appendices to CBI Export Planner - crecer

CBI Export PlannerIn its publication ‘Exporting to the European Union’ CBI has summed up all regulationsgoverning standardisation and health and safety protection.The third category is the one that requires you to mark your product with the famous‘CE’ when that product is potentially hazardous. In order to be allowed into circulationfor trade in the European Single Market, some products have to answer to certainregulations that ensure the health and safety protection of European citizens and theirenvironment. The HACCP rules for foodstuff preparation are a good example. In mostother industrialized markets you will find similar regulations. You should check first,before considering importing into such markets.To inform you on important environmental aspects CBI has set up a computerized‘GreenBuss ® ’ database and has prepared the ‘Eco Trade Manual’ together withEnvironmental Quick Scans for specific product groups.Other non-tariff barriers concern the imports of endangered animals, birds and plants(CITES), or products which serve military purposes.All those import restrictions or privileges can be checked out easily. Your government,your embassies, your Chambers of Commerce, your Trade Promotion Organizations, orthe representative of the EU will be able to inform you adequately.The last category is of an informal nature and comes from ‘grassroot’ origins.Occasionally, consumers or citizens in general form pressure groups - sometimes evendemonstrating on the streets - to force government to put an end to business practicesthey find unethical or anti-social. They may protest against feeding the babies with infantformula, not with mothers’ milk. They may protest against child labour and inviteeverybody to stop buying products which are made by minors. They may protest againstfood preservation by gamma-radiation, or against genetically manipulated foodstuffs orbiotechnology. Eventually, such consumeristic movements succeed in setting governmentrules; the ILO did it, the SA 8000 (Social Accountability) are examples of such. Moreoften than not, the fact that consumers do not like certain practices, compels suppliers toadopt new manufacturing processes or materials.Figure 3.1.4Import and freecirculation rulesFormalImport and free circulation rulesInformalTariff Non-tariff Consumeristic protestDuties, accises,quotas, preferencesStandardization,safety & healthprotectionProtests against child labour,biotechnology, geneticmanipulation, pollutingproduct components etc.But always and even for products or services that are not regulated in the abovementioned manner, the main ‘import barrier’ will be the current market situation, ormore explicitly, the space that is left over for you by the present competitive suppliers.This is not a technical import barrier, but it can prove to be a commercial one. You canuse that knowledge to your own benefit.34 III - The export marketing mix