30 Jun 2017 News Green economy

Launch of the China National Platform on Voluntary Sustainability Standards

Qingdao 27 June 2017- The Government of China, with the support of UN Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS), launched its National Multi-Stakeholder Platform on Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) on June 27. This event took place as part of a sub-forum on sustainability standards within the broader context of the 2017 Qingdao Forum on International Standardization.

The ceremony was led by Mr. Tian Shihong, Administrator, Standardization Administration of China (SAC), Mr. Liu Yuhua, Director-General, International Trade, Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), Mr. Ji Zhengkun, President, China Association of Standardization (CAS) and Mr. Bonapas Onguglo, Chief, Trade and Environment at UNCTAD, on behalf of UNFSS.

Today VSS is a popular market-based tool for businesses and stakeholders to shift commodity production, supply chain management and consumption patterns to more sustainable models. Complying with VSS can increase marketability of green exports in growing and lucrative sustainable markets around the world. Complying with VSS can also advance sustainable production methods in the field, and contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In view of the importance of VSS and the wide impact VSS has on international trade, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), the Standardization Administration of China (SAC) and the United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS) are working together to build the Chinese National Platform on VSS. The platform aims to facilitate dialogue on VSS, carry out research, provide services, and promote activities on VSS.

UNFSS, comprised of five UN agencies –the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and International Trade Centre (ITC) – supported the launch of the China National Platform on Voluntary Sustainability Standards. UNFSS, founded in 2013, is an inter-agency framework that aims to enhance developing countries’ participation in the international dialogue on VSS. UNFSS members work collaboratively towards supporting producers, businesses, NGOs and the governments in developing countries to better assess the contribution of VSS to the SDGs.

New national multi-stakeholder platforms on VSS in India (launched March 2016), Brazil (launched in May/June 2017) and now, China, reflect the increasingly proactive stance by business and government actors from these countries. The launch event in Qingdao brought together stakeholders from China and other developing countries, representing government agencies, companies, international organizations and think tanks.

Additional information on the launch of the China platform can be found in the report here