ITC is looking for a National Expert on Quality in Kazakhstan to work with the Trade Facilitation Team, within the Trade Facilitation and Policy for Business (TFPB) section of the Division on Market Development (DMD) on assessing the quality related obstacles to import of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables from Tajikistan to Kazakhstan, Fruit Juices from Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan. Please find attached the Terms of Reference. The candidate should have at least 10 years of professional experience in field of standardization and conformity assessment, handling technical regulatory matters and should hold a BA/BSC degree in business management, economics, engineering, law or any other related fields.

To apply, please contact Jalil Bulatov and Adelina Harunjen by e-mail (jalil.bulatov@intracen.org, aharunjen@intracen.org), notifying them of your application and stating the title of this consultancy as the subject line.

Deadline is November 1st, 18:00 Nur-Sultan time

Project information

Ready for Trade Central Asia (R4TCA) is an EU-funded Project geared towards supporting the development of intra-regional and international trade in five Central Asian (CA) countries. This four-year initiative [2020 to 2023] is implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in close collaboration with national partners.

The first component of the R4TCA project referred to as “Addressing obstacles to trade” aims at removing regulatory, technical, and procedural barriers faced by businesses engaged in international trade for selected product-groups. This endeavor will be structured in two phases: (ER 1.2) identifying key obstacles reported by businesses involved in trade operations for selected product groups and (ER 1.3) designing concrete recommendations and reforms to remove them.

As part of this component, ITC has conducted a comprehensive analysis of the structure of trade tied to 8 selected product groups to identify key bottlenecks encountered by stakeholders on both sides of the border. This activity narrowed down the spectrum of trade obstacles that when removed will have high trade facilitation impact for the respective trade flows.

One of the main group of barriers designated for further interventions relates to the national and regional quality infrastructure and conformity assessment mechanisms.

In this context, ITC will conduct a deep dive study on mandatory technical requirements, standards and conformity assessment mechanisms applicable to the targeted trade flows on both sides of the border. The objective of this study is to map concrete steps that could be removed or addressed with the view to:

• streamline conformity assessment procedures
• avoid duplication of testing and certification
• facilitate acceptance and recognition of certificates across borders
• boost capacity of national testing and inspection facilities to comply with the existing mandatory regulations
• optimize and harmonize the regulatory framework, etc.

In Kazakhstan, ITC is recruiting a national expert to provide technical assistance towards identification and mapping of obstacles stemming from the quality infrastructure along the trade flows of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables from Tajikistan, and of Fruit Juices from Uzbekistan.  

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Trade Facilitation Adviser and under the overall guidance of the Senior Trade Facilitation Adviser (TFPB). He/She will also work in close collaboration with ITC field office in Kazakhstan as well as with other national and/or international consultants involved in this initiative.

The consultant will undertake the following duties:

1. Conduct research on mandatory SPS requirements applicable to Fresh Fruits and Vegetables from Tajikistan, Fruit Juices from Uzbekistan

Provide an exhaustive list of domestic sanitary and phytosanitary measures applicable to Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, Fruit Juices. The list should cover all SPS related requirements stemming from laws and regulations in relation with food safety, plant health, animal health, public health, etc. The consultant will ensure to link each measure / requirement to its prescription in a regulation, national law, regional or international agreement. List of SPS measure may include, among other:

• Tolerance limits for residues and restricted use of substances (i.e. indicate substance, authorized levels and, wherever applicable, sampling and testing methods).
• Labelling, marking and packaging requirements
• Hygienic requirements related to sanitary and phytosanitary conditions
• Treatment for elimination of plant and animal pests and disease-causing organisms in the final products or prohibition of treatment
• Requirements relating to production or postproduction processes, such as plant-growth processes, storage and transport conditions

2. Conduct research on mandatory TBT requirements applicable to Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, Fruit Juices in Kazakhstan

Provide an exhaustive list of Kazakhstan’s technical barriers to trade related to Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, Fruit Juices. List of TBT measures may include, among other:

Labeling, marking and packaging requirements

• Production or post-production requirements
• Regulations on transport and storage
• Product identity requirements
• Product quality, safety of performance requirements

3. Conduct research on conformity assessment requirements related to both SPS and TBT measures

Map and describe all conformity assessment requirements related to SPS and TBT measures applicable to Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, Fruit Juices in Kazakhstan. The consultant will ensure to link each measure / requirement to its prescription in a regulation, national law, regional or international agreement. For each conformity assessment requirement, please indicate the specific mandatory requirements it relates to (e.g., microbiological contaminant, fumigation report) and collect "specimens" of the conformity assessment certificate, inspection report, testing report.  List of Conformity Assessment requirements may include, among other:

• Product registration and approval requirement
• Testing requirements
• Certification requirements
• Inspection requirements
• Traceability requirements

4. Conduct analysis of existing provisions and agreements in Kazakhstan for the recognition of conformity assessment results issued by conformity assessment bodies outside of the Eurasian Economic Union

List all provisions in national laws/regulation or bilateral/regional agreement pertaining to the recognition of conformity assessment results.

5. Conduct research on conformity assessment infrastructure in Kazakhstan

Identify main conformity assessment bodies in Kazakhstan that are involved in the process of importing fresh fruits and vegetables from Tajikistan and fruit juices from Uzbekistan and describe the scope of their involvement (type of tests they can conduct, indicators, analytical methods, level of accreditation etc).

Conformity assessment bodies should include all:

• Certification bodies
• Inspection bodies
• Testing facilities (i.e laboratories)

6. Analyze quality-related environment root-causes to the non-recognition of certificates, inspections or testing results across borders

In close coordination with ITC’s national consultants working in KazakhstanTajikistan and Uzbekistan, identify the main possible reasons for non-recognition of conformity assessment results: e.g., non-alignment of mandatory requirements, lack of capacity of conformity assessment bodies to demonstrate compliance (i.e., need to specify the exact method, parameters that cannot be assessed), inadequate templates or template completion…. The consultant shall conduct interviews with the private sector to collect additional information on the challenges faced with recognition of certificates from an operational perspective at border crossings.

7. Formulate concrete recommendations to resolve current barrier to trade

Referring to the concrete quality infrastructure related bottlenecks identified above, recommend specific activities / reforms that would contribute to facilitate the recognition of certificates across the border.

Skills

• In-depth knowledge of trade, quality infrastructure, food safety and product quality requirements
• Experience in conducting research and delivering analytical and advisory activities such and drafting technical reports
• Excellent comprehension, analytic and problem-solving skills with ability to guide and provide practical advise
• Capacity to manage multi-task and meet tight deadlines;

Education

• Undergraduate degree (BA/BSC or other)
• Degree in business management, economics, engineering, law or any other related fields
• Extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the university degree.

Language

Excellent communication and drafting capacities in Russian. English language is desirable

Required Experience:

In-depth knowledge and at least 10 years of practical technical experience within national quality infrastructure institutions dealing with standardization and conformity assessment, handling technical regulatory matters.

Other Experience:

The Consultant is expected to have a minimum of 15 years of relevant experience in the matters which are the object of this consultancy. Proven experience in conducting research and analysis in the area of trade and transport facilitation. Experience in working with CIS countries is desirable. Work experience in the development organizations, preferably working on trade facilitation issues.