The China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone has become a beacon of openness and innovation, particularly in the testing and certification industry. It has welcomed the establishment of the country's first wholly foreign-owned testing and certification agency, Anchor Center for Certification (ACC), which has facilitated advanced technology imports and enhanced the international competitiveness of domestic enterprises.

Since the implementation of 31 measures in 2014 aimed at further boosting the zone's level of openness, five foreign certification agencies have set up operations in the FTZ. A revision to China's certification and accreditation regulations in 2020 removed restrictions on foreign-invested enterprises obtaining certification agency qualifications, granting them treatment equal to domestic enterprises.

Shanghai FTZ's pioneering "pre-establishment national treatment + negative list" management model has accelerated regulatory reform and been adopted nationwide. This has introduced advanced technologies, innovative business mechanisms, and management concepts into China's testing and certification industry.

ACC, benefiting from relaxed entry requirements and streamlined approval processes, provides one-stop services for China's food and agricultural industries. It shortens certification cycles and costs for both domestic and export-oriented enterprises.

Looking ahead, the Pudong New Area market supervision and regulation bureau plans to leverage the negative list and other policies to further open up the region, enhancing its role as a model for openness and development.