ECCT makes progress on issues raised in 2014 Position Papers
The ECCT has made progress on 11 of the issues that were raised in its 2014 Position Papers. The announcement follows the chamber's meeting with the National Development Council (NDC) and attended by Taiwan's major government ministries and agencies to discuss the government's official reply to the business issues raised in the papers. The annual meeting brought together around 40 officials from a number of government ministries and agencies to discuss priority issues with co-chairs of the ECCT's industry and support committees. The meeting is the culmination of dozens of bilateral meetings held between the ECCT and various government agencies over the course of the past year. The meeting was formally opened by NDC Minister Kuan Chung-ming and followed by opening remarks from ECCT Chairman Giuseppe Izzo. The rest of the meeting was chaired by NDC Deputy Minister Chen Chien-liang.
ECCT committees and issues where progress was made
Automotive committee
- Issue: Safety devices
- Progress made: The government has indicated it would like to follow EU legislation to enhance road safety for motorcyclists and will invite industry representatives to discuss an implementation schedule in the second quarter of 2014.
Electrical Engineering and Equipment (EEE) committee
- Issue: Directive 401
- Progress made: Following an EU-Taiwan forum aimed at deepening mutual understanding on market supervision systems and IEC standards, progress has been made in the issue of routine test reports. If high-voltage electrical facilities at one factory receive type test reports approved by the Bureau of Energy, products manufactured in different factories operated by the same company should also be approved. At the meeting the Bureau of Energy (BoE) undertook to maintain smooth and open communications with the ECCT in future and expressed willingness to discuss technical details with experts through various means such as video conferencing to resolve issues.
- Issue: CNS 3376 explosion proof certificate
- Progress made: The main problems have been clarified and consensus has been reached between the government, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and industry to streamline application procedures for electrical equipment used in an explosive environment including simplifying following IEC standards to accept series type certification based on documents provided by applicants.
- Issue: Enhancing electrical safety - Bringing CNS standards in line with IEC standards
- Progress made: The BSMI is drafting standards for medium voltage panels according to IEC61439-1 and IEC 60364-1 standards.
- Issue: PRC import ban
- Progress made: The ban on the importation into Taiwan of two items from the EEE committee's priority list of items manufactured in China has been lifted (please refer to the appendix for details).
Banking committee
- Issue: Expanding the scope of products and services available to qualified investors in Taiwan
- Progress made: The Banking committee is highly encouraged by the government's policy to include the financial services industry in the Free Economic Pilot Zones and expand the business scope of offshore banking units (OBUs). The FSC issued letters earlier this year stating that OBUs will be exempted from regulations under the Trust Enterprise Act, Securities Investment Trust and Consulting Act and Futures Trading Act. This could spur the repatriation of capital that is currently offshore and is essential to enhance the onshore financial market and should boost growth in investment, job opportunities and the economy.
Better Living committee
- Issue: Equality of treatment for foreign residents:
- Progress made: The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has announced that it will relax regulations governing the residence status of the adult children of foreign nationals (over the age of 20) who wish to live with their parents in Taiwan. Under the new rules, long-term residents of Taiwan will be allowed to extend their stays by up to six years (two three-year extensions).
Travel and Tourism committee
- Issue: Upgrading airport services
- Progress made: The Taoyuan Airport Corporation will interact with all related agencies to host meetings and improve communications with stakeholders in order to keep the airport running smoothly during the maintenance of the runway at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TTIA), which began in 2007 and is expected to be completed in 2015.
Retail & Distribution committee
- Issue: PRC import ban
- Progress made: The ban on the importation into Taiwan of four items from the Retail & Distribution committee's priority list of items manufactured in China has been lifted (please refer to the appendix for details).
- Product labeling issues: Sock labelling
- Progress made: The Department of Commerce (DoC) formally amended regulations stipulating that retailers only have to label the outer packaging of socks sold in multi-packs. However, the responsibility for the labelling of individual pairs of socks when a multi-pack is split into individual pairs remains unclear. During the meeting, the NDC urged the DoC to refer to and adopt the best international practice in clarifying and resolving this issue.
Healthcare Enhancement committee
- Issue: PRC import ban
- Progress made: The ban on the importation into Taiwan of one item from the Healthcare Enhancement committee's priority list of items manufactured in China has been lifted (please refer to the appendix for details).
Appendix:
Progress on the PRC import banThe import ban or restrictions on the following items as listed on the priority lists of the Retail & Distribution, Electrical Engineering and Equipment committees' 2014 position papers have been lifted:Retail & Distribution
| Apparel | ||||
| CCC Code | Description | |||
| 6107.22.00.00-4 | Men's or boys' nightshirts and pyjamas, knitted or crocheted, of man-made fibres | |||
| 6108.32.00.00-1 | Women's or girls' nightdresses and pyjamas, knitted or crocheted, of man-made fibres | |||
| 6211.42.00.90.4 | Other garments, women's or girls', of cotton | |||
| Ceramics | ||||
| 6910.90.00.00.8 | Other ceramic sinks, wash basins, wash basin pedestals, baths, bidets, water closet pans, flushing cisterns, urinals and similar sanitary fixtures (of porcelain or china are classified in division 691010.00) | |||
Electrical Engineering and Equipment
| CCC Code | Description |
| 8501.4020.00.6 | AC servo motors, single-phase, of an output not exceeding 3.75 kW |
| 8537.10.90.00.5 | Other apparatus for electric control or the distribution of electricity, for a voltage not exceeding 1,000 V |
Healthcare Enhancement
| CCC Code | Description |
| 9018.49.20.00-1 | Parts and accessories of other instruments and appliances, used in dental sciences |
