A flagship group for certifying and inspecting products was officially launched October 29 in Beijing.

The China Certification and Inspection Group said on its website that it aims to provide inspection, surveying, certification and testing services transnationally.

Liu Shengming, chairman of the group's board, told yesterday's launch ceremony: "The group is set up mainly to cushion the pressures brought by China's entry into the World Trade Organization.''

Under the Chinese Government's pledges to the WTO, the country will totally open its product certification and inspection sector for foreign competitors by 2005.

 "Our competitors are so powerful that we have to prepare using every possible effort,'' said Liu.

Liu said between 70 and 80 per cent of the sector's global market was monopolized by the 10 biggest certification enterprises.

The group came about from a reorganization of the former China National Import and Export Commodities Inspection Corp. During the reorganization, a network of 36 Chinese and 18 overseas subsidiaries was set up, consisting of more than 200 sub-branches covering major ports and trade centres throughout the world.

General manager Huang Zhenghai said the group's top priority is to improve its competitiveness as well as its employees' capability.

 "At the same time, we should explore more of the international market and strengthen our co-operation with overseas competitors,'' said Huang.

Huang said the group has formed a co-operative relationship with more than 120 inspection agencies in more than 60 countries across the world.

China's inspection and certification sector has become increasingly market-oriented since the mid-1990s. Official organizations previously carried out such services.

Wang Fengqing, chairwoman of the China National Regulatory Commission for Certification and Accreditation, said: "The establishment of the group is a milestone event for the sector.''

The commission was the only watchdog body authorized by the central government to supervise certification in the market when it was set up in August 2001. Wang said China had formed the unified and standardized certification and accreditation system before China joined the WTO in December 2001.

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