AfCFTA - QI-Africa

African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is the free trade zone between 54 member states of the African Union, which was adopted in 2019 on the basis of the African Free Trade Agreement between these states.

The aim is to enable the free flow of goods and services across the continent and boost the trading position of Africa in the global market. As part of its mandate, the AfCFTA is to eliminate trade barriers and boost intra-Africa trade.

The ACTReF paper has been prepared to provide an overview of the different approaches to technical regulation across Africa and it also reviews the options and possible routes that can be followed in establishing a continental framework for technical regulation on the continent. This is important for the successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The purpose of this Annex is to implement the provisions of the Protocol on Trade in Goods concerning Technical Barriers to Trade. It shall apply to standards, technical regulations, conformity assessment procedures, accreditation, and metrology in the State Parties.