Representatives responsible for trade, technical regulations, legal matters, and standardisation, among others, from the 16 member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are meeting in Johannesburg.

The representatives, who are also responsible for accreditation, are meeting to discuss trade barriers.

In an interview with NBC News, the SADC Secretariat Spokesperson, Barbara Lopi, said the main objective of the series of meetings is to facilitate dialogue between member states on issues about Standardization, Quality Assurance, Accreditation, and Metrology matters.

According to Lopi, the meeting is in support of the implementation of the SADC Free Trade Area, which was established in 2008.

"Delegates will review new progress made by national quality institutions, update regional regulations, validate the new SADC quality infrastructure strategy, and agree on key recommendations that will be presented to the SADC Ministers of Trade as the region collaborates to reduce barriers, improve product quality, support regional industrial development, and deepen economic integration."

Lopi said the SADC Free Trade Area is to promote regional economic integration among SADC member states by eliminating import tariffs and reducing non-tariff barriers on goods.

Created under Article 11 of the Technical Barriers to Trade Annex to the SADC Protocol on Trade, this plan aims to gradually remove these barriers among member states and between SADC and other regional and international trade groups.