Two agreements on product origin requirements and quarantine cooperation were signed under the framework of the Mainland/Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) in Macao Friday.

The two agreements, signed by the State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government, aim to intensify customs cooperation in facilitating logistic flow of Macao's zero-tarrif products to the mainland as well as quarantine inspection and food safety.

CEPA, which took effect on Jan. 1 this year, sets the legal framework for the endeavors to phase out tariffs and non-tariff goods trade barriers, phase in liberalization of services trade, and promote trade and investment facilitation for common development.

Under the product origin agreements, the two sides pledged to set up three joint teams responsible for assessing product origin,evaluating household appliances and textile products, which would allow a smooth flow of Macao's CEPA products to enter the mainland market while ensuring product quality and safety.

The food safety agreement will see to a closer cooperation on the control of product quality and food safety through intelligence exchanges, share of laboratory resources and facilitation of legal and administrative procedures.

Source: Xinhua