Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA)
A Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) is a trade agreement between two countries where each agrees to recognize the other’s conformity assessments, certifications, or security standards. This means goods, services, or security processes approved in one country are accepted in the other without repeated testing or verification. MRAs help reduce duplication, save time, and lower compliance costs in cross-border trade.
In logistics and trade, MRAs are commonly applied to areas such as customs security programs, product testing, and regulatory compliance. For example, if a shipment is certified or cleared under one country’s recognized system, the partner country may accept it without additional checks. This speeds up border processing and improves supply chain predictability. It also builds trust between regulatory authorities.
MRAs benefit businesses by simplifying market access and reducing delays caused by recertification or reinspection. They support smoother international trade flows while maintaining safety and quality standards. Over time, MRAs strengthen cooperation between countries and make global trade more efficient.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA)
Clear answers to the most common questions people have when learning about Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA).
They reduce duplicate testing and inspections, saving time and cost while improving cross-border trade efficiency.
They often cover product conformity assessments, customs security standards, and regulatory certifications.
No. They reduce duplication, but authorities may still conduct checks based on risk or specific regulatory requirements.