Driving High-Quality Development: Guangdong Province, Hong Kong, and Macao Unveil Second Batch of “GBA Standards”
Photo Source: Southern Metropolis Daily
Source: The People's Government of Guangdong Province
On 1st of February, Guangdong province, Hong Kong, and Macao jointly released the second batch of “GBA Standards” checklist. The second batch of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Standards, also known as “GBA Standards,” adds 73 standards in seven additional fields to the previous 110 standards in 25 fields.
The second batch of “GBA Standards” focuses on key livelihood needs and economic and social development in the three regions of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. It continues to explore demands in areas such as food, transportation, and consumer goods. The new fields include pre-packaged meals, domestic services, meteorology, green ecology, workplace skills training, essential oil products, and electrical wires and cables. The coverage has expanded to 32 fields, further enhancing both depth and breadth.
It is worth noting that among the research and development units for the second batch of 73 "GBA Standards," there are a total of 173 Hong Kong and 112 Macao government, industry, academia, research, and application organisations involved. This includes influential institutions such as the Hong Kong Eating Establishment Employees General Union, the Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the University of Hong Kong, the University of Macao, the Macao Federation of Restaurants, and the Macao Municipal Affairs Bureau. These institutions actively participated throughout the entire process and played a significant role in driving the development. The Standardisation Research Center for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA Standardisation Research Center), in collaboration with the National Centre of Standards Evaluation, jointly formed a technical review expert pool consisting of top experts from international organisations such as ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) and IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), national-level standardisation technical committees, and industry experts from Hong Kong and Macao, ensuring that the "GBA Standards" are more credible and authoritative through internationally leading technical reviews.
It is reported that after the implementation of the first batch of "GBA Standards," there has been a strong market response. As of now, 1,112 units in Guangdong, 183 units in Hong Kong, and 139 units in Macao have committed to using the newly released 73 "GBA Standards." Additionally, relying on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Standard Information Public Service Platform, the three regions have achieved synchronous interconnection and communication in terms of "GBA Standards" checklist publication, case demonstrations, key area promotions, and interactions. This facilitates timely access to information, resource sharing, and further promotes the implementation and promotion of "GBA Standards," facilitating connectivity and integration within the Greater Bay Area.
In the next step, various sectors in the GBA will work together with the concept of "One Bay Area, One Standard" “同一个湾区 同一个标准” to further develop high-level "GBA Standards" and promote high-quality development in the Bay Area. Guangdong will fully utilise its role in technical consensus negotiation and continue to promote the work of "GBA Standards," providing high-level standards to serve the high-quality development of the Greater Bay Area and facilitate the efficient flow and optimal allocation of various elements within the Greater Bay Area.
Furthermore, by leveraging the technological advantages, innovation advantages, and management advantages of the GBA, these will be transformed into industrial advantages, competitive advantages, and institutional advantages to enhance people's well-being. This will serve as the starting point and focus of the "GBA Standards" work, and continue to expand the depth and breadth of the "GBA Standards" checklist in key areas such as food safety, transportation, and social security, establishing the brand of "GBA Standards."
In the future, the Guangdong Administration for Market Regulation will fully leverage the role of standardisation in promoting openness and strengthening exchanges and cooperation in standardisation between the GBA and countries and regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, RCEP, and international industrial and standardisation organisations. It will combine the construction of international industrial and standardisation organisations with the development of domestic group standards organisations, integrate the training and use of international standardisation talents with high-quality development of domestic industries, explore the transformation or mutual recognition path of "GBA Standards" towards international standards, enhance the recognition and influence of "GBA Standards." Through "GBA Standards," it will promote the Greater Bay Area's equipment, products, technology, and services to go global and steadily advance the expansion of institutional openness in terms of rules, regulations, management, and standards.
Disclaimer: This document has been translated into English. If there is any inconsistency or ambiguity between the English version and the Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail. The full text of the measures, in Chinese, can be found below: https://www.gd.gov.cn/gdywdt/bmdt/content/post_4358375.html