Canada-EU : Free Trade Must Be Secure Trade
ROBIC,LLPwww.robic.ca
info@robic.com
MONTREAL1001Square-Victoria-BlocE-8thFloor
Montreal,Quebec,CanadaH2Z2B7
Tel.:+1514987-6242Fax:+1514845-7874QUEBEC2828LaurierBoulevard,Tower1,Suite925
Quebec,Quebec,CanadaG1V0B9
Tel.:+1418653-1888Fax.:+1418653-0006
CANADA-EU:FREETRADEMUSTBESECURETRADE
JASONMOSCOVICI*
ROBIC,
LLP
L
AWYERS,PATENTANDTRADE-MARKAGENTS
Aftermanyyearsofnegotiations,itwasannouncedthatthefinaltextoftheCanada-
EuropeanUnionComprehensiveEconomicandTradeAgreement(CETA)hadbeen
completedandwasheadedfortranslationintothe23officiallanguages.
ThefulldocumentwasfinallymadeavailabletothepubliconSeptember26th2014,
inthecontextoftheCanada-EUSummitinOttawa.Whilemanyhavealready
speculatedontheimpactthatthishistoricaltreatywillhave,theagreementwillstill
firstneedtoberatifiedbymemberstates,whichisn’tlikelytohappenbeforetheend
of2015-2016.
Nevertheless,nowisasgoodatimeasevertotakeastepbackandreflectonthe
impactthatCETAwillsurelyhaveonthecurrenttradinglandscape,especiallyinlight
ofthemanytechnicalandregulatoryhurdlesthatCanadianmanufacturershaveto
meetinordertobeabletoselltheirwaresandservicestotheEU.
Anyonewhomanufactures,distributes,importsorexportsproductsforsale
internationallyknowstheheadachesthatcanbecausedbynon-harmonized
regulationsanddifferingindustrystandards.Productclassification,safety
requirements,labelling,certification,marketingandenvironmentalconsiderations
haunteventhemostintrepidentrepreneur,whoissigningdistributiondealsfornew
productsfasterthantheycanbecertifiedforcompliance.Ofcourse,boththeindustry
andthepublicrecognizetheimportanceofhavingtopassthroughtheseregulatory
hulahoopsanditispreciselythis,amongstmanyotherconcerns,thatCETAhasset
itselfouttostreamlineandaddressinthecontextoffreetradebetweenCanadaand
theEuropeanUnion.
CETAinaNutshell
Briefly,CETAistheproductofbilateralnegotiationsbetweentheEuropeanUnionand
Canadathatbeganin2009.CETAisbeingtoutedasabroader,moreambitious
initiativethanNAFTA,andthehopeisthatCETAwillopennewmarketsforthe
©CIPS,2015.*FromROBIC,LLP,amultidisciplinaryfirmofLawyers,andPatentandTrade-markAgents.Publishedin
theWinter2015(Vol.18,no.3)Newsletterofthefirm.Publication068.189E.
ROBIC,LLPwww.robic.ca
info@robic.com
MONTREAL1001Square-Victoria-BlocE-8thFloor
Montreal,Quebec,CanadaH2Z2B7
Tel.:+1514987-6242Fax:+1514845-7874QUEBEC2828LaurierBoulevard,Tower1,Suite925
Quebec,Quebec,CanadaG1V0B9
Tel.:+1418653-1888Fax.:+1418653-0006
2
exportationofCanadianproductsandservicesintotheEU;therebycreatingnew
tradeopportunitiesforCanadiandistributors,manufacturersandserviceproviders.
OneoftheguidingprinciplesbehindCETAisthegrantingofpreferentialaccessto
Canadianproductsandservicesbyeliminatingpreviouslyapplicabletariffs.Atits
core,CETAisexpectedtoremoveapproximately99%ofthetariffspresentlyinplace
betweenthetwoeconomies,normallyappliedtoawidevarietyofproductsand
services,suchasnon-agriculturalgoods(industrialandmanufacturedgoods),aswell
asfishandseafood,forestryproducts,biotechnologyandmedicalproducts.
Thisreductionand/oreliminationoftariffsareseenasoneofthedrivingforcesthat
willhopefullyincreasetrade.However,tariffsaren`ttheonlybarrieraffectingthefree
flowofgoodsorservicesacrossborders:aspreviouslystated,technicalbarrierssuch
asregulatorycompliance,certificationtestsandvarioussafetystandardsalsocreate
resistancetoafreeflowingmarket,whicharealsoaddressedbyCETA.
CEMarking,CETAandRegulatoryCooperation
Asanexampleofthemanyregulatoryrequirementsapplicabletoanygivenproduct
orservicedistributedorprovidedintheEU,CEmarkingisrequiredinordertoshowa
product’scompliancewithagroupingofEUdirectives.TherecognizableCEmark
allowsforthecirculationofproductsmarked“CE”throughouttheEuropeanmarket.
Morespecifically,aCEmarksignalsthataproductbearingthemarkcanbesoldin
anymemberstateoftheEuropeanEconomicAreaandsignifiesthatthe
manufactureroftheproducthasverifiedandconfirmedthattheproductinquestion
complieswiththerequirementssetoutbytheapplicabledirectivesrelatingtothat
specificclassofproduct.Whereadirectiverequiresit,theproductmayalsoneedto
beassessedbyathirdpartyregulatorybodytoestablishsuchconformity.For
example,let’ssayamanufacturerwhomakesapopulartoyalreadybeingsoldinAsia
wishestonowsellanddistributethisproductinafewEuropeanstates.Tobeableto
doso,itwouldfirsthavetoverifywiththerelevantauthoritiesifanyspecificCE
directivesexistforthisclassofproduct.Ifitsohappensthatthereisadirectivethatis
specificallyapplicabletotoysafety,thismanufacturerwillhavetofirstmeetthese
requirementstobeabletoaffixtheCEmarkonitsproductanddistributeittothe
Europeanmemberstates.
Thisresponsibilitynaturallyvestswiththemanufacturer/provider,andaCEmarkacts
asasignalthatalllegalrequirementsnecessarytobecompliedwithhavebeenmet.
However,this,aswellasotherregulatoryconsiderations,hasbeenasourceof
confusion;andobtainingaCEmark,oranyotherrequiredformofregulatory
certification,hasbeenknowntocausedelaysandunforeseenexpensesforanyone
lookingtoentertheEUmarketfromabroad.
ROBIC,LLPwww.robic.ca
info@robic.com
MONTREAL1001Square-Victoria-BlocE-8thFloor
Montreal,Quebec,CanadaH2Z2B7
Tel.:+1514987-6242Fax:+1514845-7874QUEBEC2828LaurierBoulevard,Tower1,Suite925
Quebec,Quebec,CanadaG1V0B9
Tel.:+1418653-1888Fax.:+1418653-0006
3
Therefore,inordertofurtherencouragetradeandtotrulybenefitfromthe“0%”tariff,
theconsolidatedCETAtextincludesa“regulatorycooperationchapter”,afirstofits
kindforany“CanadianFreeTrade”typetreaty,whichwasputinplacemainlyto
addresstheregulatoryconcernsthatcanfollowanincreaseintrade.
TheregulatorycooperationchapterofCETAisintendedtocreateaframeworkunder
whichcooperationbetweenCanadianandEUregulatoryauthoritieswouldbe
facilitatedviathecomparisonofdata,analysisofpractices,riskassessments,aswell
asviatheevaluationofoverallregulatoryimpact.Whilethisisnotapushfor
“regulatoryharmonization”perse,suchregulatorycooperationisnevertheless
expectedtodiminishtradebarriersandfacilitateearlierandcheaperaccessto
regulatorydevelopmentprocessesandcomplianceassessments.Thisisnotbeing
“sold”asaguaranteeofequivalentregulatorystandardsbetweenbothmarkets,but
impliesthatamechanismwillbeinplacetoallowbetterguidanceandbetter
communicationbetweenthegoverningregulatorybodiesthatestablishandvalidate
theserequirements.
Tothiseffect,hereareafewnotableexcerptsfromtheconsolidatedCETAText,
Section26onRegulatoryCooperation:
ArticleX.2.4:Principles
4.[…],thePartiescommitthemselvestofurtherdevelopingtheirregulatory
cooperationinlightoftheirmutualinterestinorderto:(a)preventandeliminate
unnecessarybarrierstotradeandinvestment;(b)enhancetheclimatefor
competitivenessandinnovation,includingthroughpursuingregulatorycompatibility,
recognitionofequivalence,andconvergence;and(c)promotetransparent,efficient
andeffectiveregulatoryprocessesthatbettersupportpublicpolicyobjectivesand
fulfilthemandatesofregulatorybodies,includingthroughthepromotionof
informationexchangeandenhanceduseofbestpractices.
ArticleX.5:CompatibilityofRegulations
Withaviewtoenhancingconvergenceandcompatibilitybetweenregulatory
measuresoftheParties,eachPartyshall,whenappropriate,considertheregulatory
measuresorinitiativesoftheotherPartyonthesameorrelatedtopics.This
considerationdoesnotpreventeitherPartyfromadoptingdifferingmeasuresor
pursuingdifferingapproachesforreasonsincludingdifferentinstitutionaland
legislativeapproaches,orcircumstances,valuesorprioritiesparticulartothatParty.”
Withregardstotheassessmentofstandards,CETAalsoseekstoestablisha
protocolthatwillallowforthereciprocalacceptanceoftestresultsandproduct
certificationassessmentsbytherespectiverecognizedregulatorybodiesinCanada
andtheEU.Also,inordertofacilitatetheassessmentandcertificationofaproduct,a
ROBIC,LLPwww.robic.ca
info@robic.com
MONTREAL1001Square-Victoria-BlocE-8thFloor
Montreal,Quebec,CanadaH2Z2B7
Tel.:+1514987-6242Fax:+1514845-7874QUEBEC2828LaurierBoulevard,Tower1,Suite925
Quebec,Quebec,CanadaG1V0B9
Tel.:+1418653-1888Fax.:+1418653-0006
4
Canadiancertificationbodycouldbeenabledtoseekaccreditationfromabody
locatedentirelywithintheEU.Ifsuchaccreditationisobtained,testingand
certificationcouldthereforeberecognizedaspartofonemutualaccreditationforboth
regionsbutoccurringinonlyone,therebyreducingcertificationcostsandavoiding
unnecessaryregulatorydelays(onecanhope).
Assuch,hereareadditionalnotablegeneralexcerptsfromtheconsolidatedCETA
Text,section6,(ChapterXX:TechnicalBarriersToTrade):
Article3:Co-operation
ThePartiesshallstrengthentheirco-operationintheareasoftechnicalregulations,
standards,metrology,conformityassessmentprocedures,marketsurveillanceor
monitoringandenforcementactivitiesinordertofacilitatetheconductoftrade
betweentheParties,aslaiddowninChapterXXX(RegulatoryCo-operation).This
mayincludepromotingandencouragingco-operationbetweentheirrespectivepublic
orprivateorganizationsresponsibleformetrology,standardization,testing,
certificationandaccreditation,marketsurveillanceormonitoringandenforcement
activities;andinparticular,encouragingtheiraccreditationandconformity
assessmentbodiestoparticipateinco-operationarrangementsthatpromotethe
acceptanceofconformityassessmentresults.
Article7:MarkingandLabelling
[…]withrespecttotechnicalregulationsrelatingtolabellingormarkingrequirements,
thePartiesshallensuretheyarenotprepared,adoptedorappliedwithaviewtoor
withtheeffectofcreatingunnecessaryobstaclestointernationaltrade.Forthis
purpose,suchlabellingormarkingrequirementsshallnotbemoretrade-restrictive
thannecessarytofulfillalegitimateobjective,takingaccountoftherisksthatnon-
fulfillmentwouldcreate.”
Itmustbementionedhoweverthatthescopeandeffectofthisundertakingto
cooperateremainstobeseenandwillmostlikelyvaryfromsectortosector.CETA’s
approachwithregardstocooperationinregulatorymattersisneverthelessbeing
marketedascreatingfewerbarrierstotrade,onceregulationsarefinallyputinplace.
CETAalsoprovidesforspecific“sectoral”cooperationregardingthesafetyof
consumergoods.
Inconclusion,itisdifficulttoevaluateallthechangesthatCETAwillhaveonthe
presentCanada-EUtradingenvironment.Itgoeswithoutsayinghoweverthatfor
thosewhoarealreadyexportingproductsandservicestotheEUfromCanada,orare
evaluatingtheopportunitytodoso,itisadvisabletokeepaneyeoutforfurther
updatesregardingCETA,andtoconsultalegalprofessionaltonotgetcaughtinthis
newregulatoryweb.
ROBIC,LLPwww.robic.ca
info@robic.com
MONTREAL1001Square-Victoria-BlocE-8thFloor
Montreal,Quebec,CanadaH2Z2B7
Tel.:+1514987-6242Fax:+1514845-7874QUEBEC2828LaurierBoulevard,Tower1,Suite925
Quebec,Quebec,CanadaG1V0B9
Tel.:+1418653-1888Fax.:+1418653-0006
5
ROBIC,LLPwww.robic.ca
info@robic.com
MONTREAL1001Square-Victoria-BlocE-8thFloor
Montreal,Quebec,CanadaH2Z2B7
Tel.:+1514987-6242Fax:+1514845-7874QUEBEC2828LaurierBoulevard,Tower1,Suite925
Quebec,Quebec,CanadaG1V0B9
Tel.:+1418653-1888Fax.:+1418653-0006
6
Pourdesservicesdeconseilsdansledomainedelapropriété
intellectuelleetdestechnologiesdel’informationetdescommunications
(incluantlesservicesd’agentsdebrevetsetdemarquesdecommerce)
demêmequedesservicesjuridiques.
ROBIC,ungrouped’avocatsetd’agentsdebrevetsetdemarquesde
commercevouédepuis1892àlaprotectionetàlavalorisationdelapropriété
intellectuelledanstouslesdomaines:brevets,dessinsindustrielsetmodèles
utilitaires;marquesdecommerce,marquesdecertificationetappellations
d’origine;droitsd’auteur,propriétélittéraireetartistique,droitsvoisinsetde
l’artisteinterprète;informatique,logicielsetcircuitsintégrés;biotechnologies,
pharmaceutiquesetobtentionsvégétales;secretsdecommerce,know-howet
concurrence;licences,franchisesettransfertsdetechnologies;commerce
électronique,distributionetdroitdesaffaires;marquage,publicitéet
étiquetage;poursuite,litigeetarbitrage;vérificationdiligenteetaudit.ROBIC,
agroupoflawyersandofpatentandtrademarkagentsdedicatedsince1892to
theprotectionandthevalorizationofallfieldsofintellectualproperty:patents,
industrialdesignsandutilitypatents;trademarks,certificationmarksand
indicationsoforigin;copyrightandentertainmentlaw,artistsandperformers,
neighbouringrights;computer,softwareandintegratedcircuits;
biotechnologies,pharmaceuticalsandplantbreeders;tradesecrets,know-
how,competitionandanti-trust;licensing,franchisingandtechnology
transfers;e-commerce,distributionandbusinesslaw;marketing,publicityand
labelling;prosecutionlitigationandarbitration;duediligence.
®/MD
COPYRIGHTER
TM/MC
IDEASLIVEHERE
®/MD
ILATOUTDEMÊMEFALLUL’INVENTER!
®/MD
LAMAÎTRISEDESINTANGIBLES
®/MD
LEGERROBICRICHARD
®/MD
NOSFENÊTRESGRANDESOUVERTESSURLEMONDEDESAFFAIRES
®/MD
PATENTER
®/MD
ou«R»
®/MDstylisé
ROBIC®/
MD
ROBIC,LLPwww.robic.ca
info@robic.com
MONTREAL1001Square-Victoria-BlocE-8thFloor
Montreal,Quebec,CanadaH2Z2B7
Tel.:+1514987-6242Fax:+1514845-7874QUEBEC2828LaurierBoulevard,Tower1,Suite925
Quebec,Quebec,CanadaG1V0B9
Tel.:+1418653-1888Fax.:+1418653-0006
7
OustyliséROBIC++++
®/MDstylisé
ouROBIC+DROIT+AFFAIRES+SCIENCES+ARTS
®/MDstylisé
ouROBIC+LAW+BUSINESS+SCIENCE+ART
®/MDstylisé
THETRADEMARKERGROUP
TM/MC
TRADEMARKER
TM/MC
VOSIDÉESÀLAPORTÉEDUMONDE,DESAFFAIRESÀLAGRANDEURDE
LAPLANÈTE
®/MD
YOURBUSINESSISTHEWORLDOFIDEAS;OURBUSINESSBRINGSYOUR
IDEASTOTHEWORLD
®/MD
MarquesdecommercedeROBIC,S.E.N.C.R.L.poursesservicesde
conseilsdansledomainedelapropriétéintellectuelleetdes
technologiesdel’informationetdescommunications(incluantles
servicesd’agentsdebrevetsetdemarquesdecommerce)demême
quesesservicesjuridiques
*************************************************************************************************
*
Forservicespertainingtointellectualproperty,technologyand
communicationlawandrelatedmatters(includingpatentandtrade-mark
agencyservices)aswellaslegalservices.
ROBIC,ungrouped’avocatsetd’agentsdebrevetsetdemarquesde
commercevouédepuis1892àlaprotectionetàlavalorisationdelapropriété
intellectuelledanstouslesdomaines:brevets,dessinsindustrielsetmodèles
utilitaires;marquesdecommerce,marquesdecertificationetappellations
d’origine;droitsd’auteur,propriétélittéraireetartistique,droitsvoisinsetde
l’artisteinterprète;informatique,logicielsetcircuitsintégrés;biotechnologies,
pharmaceutiquesetobtentionsvégétales;secretsdecommerce,know-howet
concurrence;licences,franchisesettransfertsdetechnologies;commerce
électronique,distributionetdroitdesaffaires;marquage,publicitéet
étiquetage;poursuite,litigeetarbitrage;vérificationdiligenteetaudit.ROBIC,
ROBIC,LLPwww.robic.ca
info@robic.com
MONTREAL1001Square-Victoria-BlocE-8thFloor
Montreal,Quebec,CanadaH2Z2B7
Tel.:+1514987-6242Fax:+1514845-7874QUEBEC2828LaurierBoulevard,Tower1,Suite925
Quebec,Quebec,CanadaG1V0B9
Tel.:+1418653-1888Fax.:+1418653-0006
8
agroupoflawyersandofpatentandtrademarkagentsdedicatedsince1892to
theprotectionandthevalorizationofallfieldsofintellectualproperty:patents,
industrialdesignsandutilitypatents;trademarks,certificationmarksand
indicationsoforigin;copyrightandentertainmentlaw,artistsandperformers,
neighbouringrights;computer,softwareandintegratedcircuits;
biotechnologies,pharmaceuticalsandplantbreeders;tradesecrets,know-
how,competitionandanti-trust;licensing,franchisingandtechnology
transfers;e-commerce,distributionandbusinesslaw;marketing,publicityand
labelling;prosecutionlitigationandarbitration;duediligence.
®/MD
COPYRIGHTER
TM/MC
IDEASLIVEHERE
®/MD
ILATOUTDEMÊMEFALLUL’INVENTER!
®/MD
LAMAÎTRISEDESINTANGIBLES
®/MD
LEGERROBICRICHARD
®/MD
NOSFENÊTRESGRANDESOUVERTESSURLEMONDEDESAFFAIRES
®/MD
PATENTER
®/MD
orstylizedR
®/MD
ROBIC®/
MD
orstylizedROBIC++++
®/MD
orstylizedROBIC+DROIT+AFFAIRES+SCIENCES+ARTS
®/MD
orstylizedROBIC+LAW+BUSINESS+SCIENCE+ART
®/MD
THETRADEMARKERGROUP
TM/MC
TRADEMARKER
TM/MC
VOSIDÉESÀLAPORTÉEDUMONDE,DESAFFAIRESÀLAGRANDEURDE
LAPLANÈTE
®/MD
ROBIC,LLPwww.robic.ca
info@robic.com
MONTREAL1001Square-Victoria-BlocE-8thFloor
Montreal,Quebec,CanadaH2Z2B7
Tel.:+1514987-6242Fax:+1514845-7874QUEBEC2828LaurierBoulevard,Tower1,Suite925
Quebec,Quebec,CanadaG1V0B9
Tel.:+1418653-1888Fax.:+1418653-0006
9
YOURBUSINESSISTHEWORLDOFIDEAS;OURBUSINESSBRINGSYOUR
IDEASTOTHEWORLD®/MD
Trade-marksofROBIC,LLPforitsservicespertainingtointellectual
property,technologyandcommunicationlawandrelatedmatters
(includingpatentandtrade-markagencyservices)aswellaslegal
services