Improvement Efforts Including Extension of Validity for SME Government Certification System

Status Inspection and Task Improvement for 560 Cooperatives under the Korea Federation of SMEs
Extension of Performance Certification Validity from 6 Months to 1 Year
Up to 75% Fee Reduction for Second Round Elevator Individual Model Design Review
"Prompt Establishment of 'Certification System Improvement Measures'"

Namdong National Industrial Complex in Incheon.

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government is set to improve regulations by extending the validity period of the government performance certification system for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and simplifying the certification procedures. This move comes as SMEs have expressed significant burdens related to the system amid worsening economic conditions due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The performance certification system is managed by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, which conducts performance inspections such as product and factory audits on technology-developed products and certifies those whose performance is verified. Approximately 400 products (300 new, 100 additional specifications) are certified annually.

The Office for Government Policy Coordination announced on the 4th that it has formed a joint inspection team centered on the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s National Institute of Technology and Standards, the Public Procurement Service, and the Korea Federation of SMEs to conduct a status check on 560 industry-specific cooperatives affiliated with the Korea Federation of SMEs. Following this, 28 "SME certification-related proposals" were identified for improvement.

Earlier in June, the Korea Federation of SMEs requested Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun to improve the system, stating that half of SMEs feel burdened by the costs and time required to obtain certifications.

First, when companies apply for an extension of performance certification, the current six-month recognition period will be doubled to one year to reduce the burden on companies.

When only specifications (models) are added to a performance-certified product, factory inspections will be exempted or limited to verifying only the additional specification details, improving the system.

For example, in the case of an unmanned mobile device included in a library self-lending and return machine, currently, if a large product with a touchscreen is certified and then a smaller product without the touchscreen is produced, a factory inspection must be conducted again. This will be improved.

Duplicate certifications will be abolished, and systems that do not reflect reality will be improved. For welding wire mesh, even if thickness, material, and strength are the same, separate certifications were required if the shape differed; going forward, integrated certification will be implemented.

For mechanical parking lots, reflecting the increase in vehicle size and diversification of materials, the system will be improved to allow certification of mixed types, which was previously limited to large and medium types.

Measures to alleviate cost burdens will also be prepared. During product inspections for post-management of group standard certifications, the number of inspectors will be reduced from two or more to one or more. Group standard certification refers to a system where associations or groups certify specific products of companies, and member companies utilize these certifications for public procurement, etc.

Additionally, the discount rate on the second fee for individual elevator certification design reviews will be expanded from the current 50% to up to 75%.

The improvement tasks also include 21 already addressed issues such as recognition of derivative models in KS and KC certifications and mutual citation of test reports related to LED certifications.

There were also 31 tasks that had already been addressed but could potentially affect safety and quality or cause non-compliance with international standards during the process of resolving corporate difficulties.

For these tasks, the government plans to strengthen promotion through meetings and briefings with related associations and organizations, as well as publishing casebooks to ensure companies fully understand them.

A government official stated, "While striving to complete follow-up actions on improvement tasks early, we will continuously listen to the difficulties faced by SMEs amid the challenging conditions of COVID-19," adding, "We will also promptly prepare 'Certification System Improvement Measures' to fundamentally resolve issues related to the certification system."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.