The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Mutual Recognition Arrangement for Conformity Assessment of Telecommunications Equipment (APEC TEL MRA) was endorsed by the APEC Telecommunications and Information Industry Ministers in June 1998 and commenced in July 1999. APEC TEL MRA is a voluntary arrangement intended to streamline the conformity assessment procedures for a wide range of telecommunications and telecommunications-related equipment and thereby facilitate trade among the APEC economies. It provides for mutual recognition by the importing economies of Conformity Assessment Bodies and mutual acceptance of the results of testing and equipment certification procedures undertaken by those Bodies in assessing the conformity of equipment to the Technical Regulations of importing economies.