Peru is preparing to host the APEC 2024 summit, an international event that will bring together leaders from the 21 most relevant economies in the Asia-Pacific region. This summit is set to serve as a platform to discuss key issues such as trade, innovation, and sustainability. One of the highlighted aspects in today’s global trade is conformity assessment and its importance in the consumer goods and raw materials industries, where Asia and Peru have a strong connection.

The Importance of Conformity Assessment

Conformity assessment refers to the set of processes that ensure products and services comply with established safety, quality, and sustainability standards. In global trade, conformity assessment is essential to protect consumers and facilitate access to international markets, which is particularly important in the consumer goods industry and in the export of raw materials like those that Peru trades with Asia, such as fishmeal and oil.

Conformity ensures that consumer products — many of which originate from Asia — meet the safety and sustainability standards demanded in destination markets. This is crucial in industries such as toys and school supplies, where the safety and quality of materials are paramount to protecting users, mainly children.

Companies like Pacific Control play an essential role by inspecting, evaluating, and certifying both exported and imported products, fostering confidence in trade and ensuring compliance with the standards needed to compete in demanding markets like Asia-Pacific. In line with this commitment, Pacific Control has established a strategic alliance with Centre Testing International Group Co Ltd. (CTI) to guarantee international conformity assessment services in a quick and efficient manner. Through this partnership, Pacific Control and CTI strengthen their presence in China and Peru, with commercial offices that cover Asian markets. This joint network provides clients with immediate assistance, advice, and solutions, optimizing response capacity and adaptability to destination market regulations.

APEC’s Benefits in the Consumer Goods Trade

Asia is one of the main producers of consumer goods, including food, household items, toys, and school supplies, among others. APEC fosters collaboration between economies to simplify and harmonize trade regulations, allowing Asian products to meet international standards and thus access Pacific markets.

In this context, conformity assessment ensures that products are safe, sustainable, and align with current consumer values, such as environmental responsibility. Leading conformity assessment companies, such as Pacific Control, play a crucial role by offering certification, laboratory testing, inspection, and training services, which are essential for Asian products to meet the expectations of Latin American consumers and vice versa.

Opportunities for Peruvian Exports of Raw Materials to Asia

The commercial relationship between Peru and Asia is not only focused on importing consumer goods but also on exporting Peruvian raw materials. Peru is a major supplier of products like fishmeal and oil, which are essential inputs in Asian industries such as aquaculture and food production.

For these raw materials to maintain their competitiveness in Asia, conformity assessment is equally critical. International standards in sustainability and environmental safety are becoming increasingly strict, and Peru must adapt to these demands to position itself as a reliable and sustainable supplier in the Asian market.