EU-China bilateral safety agreement comes into effect

A bilateral safety agreement between European and Chinese aviation regulators came into effect on 1 September, paving the way for simpler evaluation and certification processes for airframers of the two regions. The EASA says it held a joint meeting with its Chinese counterparts on 3 September, where both parties adopted technical implementation procedures, which are meant to support the safety agreement. “These administrative and technical procedures describe in detail how EASA and [Civil Aviation Administration of China] will conduct the validation and reciprocal acceptance of civil aeronautical product approvals,” the agency adds. In May last year, both the EU and China signed the agreement, which aims to “support worldwide trade in aircraft and related products” by removing “unnecessary duplication” of evaluation and certification activities by respective authorities. The deal will also promote co-operation between the EU and China towards a “high level” of civil aviation safety and environmental compatibility.<br/>