UPDATE ON OECD ACTIVITIES OF INTEREST TO THE SPS COMMITTEE

COMMUNICATION FROM THE OECD

The following communication, received on 15 October 2025, is being circulated at the request of the OECD.

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1  QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE

1.1.  The OECD has published a report on the interrelations between regulation and quality infrastructure (QI), entitled: Reinforcing Regulatory Frameworks through Standards, Measurements and Assurance: Full Report | OECD. (See Annex[1] for additional information).

1.2.  Quality Infrastructure (QI) exists in some form in most countries and is a powerful but often underused tool for effective governance. International standards are examples of this system in action, such as standards that ensure uniform credit card sizes globally to enable consumers to use cards in any country. In this way, the QI system supports interoperability and ensures consumer trust in the economy.

1.3.  As governments confront complex transitions such as digitalization and climate change, this report highlights how QI can be effectively used for regulatory delivery. It includes a Practical Checklist to help policymakers assess their QI landscape, identify gaps, and design policies that are globally aligned yet locally effective.

1.4.  To support countries in navigating governance of the green and digital transitions, the OECD Regulatory Policy Division is looking to take forward country-specific projects to assess and strengthen Quality Infrastructure (QI) systems, and support capacity building for increased effective coordination internationally on QI. The scope of these reviews includes:

·_              Applying the OECD Practical Checklist to review national QI systems;

·_              Developing policy options to better align QI, regulatory, and sectoral policies, both nationally and internationally;

·_              Exploring opportunities to modernize QI and regulation through digital innovation.

1.5.  Interest in this work can be communicated to natalie.cohen@oecd.org.