18.1 The APEC MRA was endorsed by the APEC Telecommunications and Information Industry Ministers in June 1998 and commenced in July 1999.

18.2 The MRA is intended to streamline the conformity assessment procedures for a wide range of telecommunications equipment and therefore facilitate trade NICTA Type Approval Guideline among the countries in the APEC region. Papua New Guinea is a party to this arrangement.

18.3 NICTA may plan to implement the MRA in the near future.