The mutual recognitions agreement will eliminate duplicative testing and certification of products in specific sectors, and facilitate bilateral cooperation in several sectors. CECA provides a framework for concluding Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) to eliminate duplicative testing and certification of products to facilitate entry of goods for sale in the respective markets. These sectoral MRAs serve to reduce costs and shorten time to market. This is especially useful for products with short life cycle.

Two sectoral annexes for trade in electrical and electronic products and telecommunication equipment were concluded under the framework chapter. For products in these two sectors, testing and certification to Indian standards and technical regulations can be done at source. They do not have to be further tested or re-certified on arrival in the market. As most of these products have relatively short life cycles, the result is a reduction in relative cost and improved time to market competitiveness of Singapore certified products entering the Indian market and vice versa.

Of immediate benefit is the food sectoral annex where Singapore has facilitated the import of egg products, dairy products and packaged drinking water from India. This will widen the sources of supply for these food products in Singapore.