G/TBT/W/799  
 
25 April 2024 
(24-3400) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
 
THEMATIC SESSION TO ENHANCE UNDERSTANDING OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS  
TENTH TRIENNIAL REVIEW  
Proposal from the Russian Federation  
The following submission, dated 24 April 2024, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of the Russian Federation . 
 
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1  BACKGROUND  
1.1.  International standards is an important element of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to 
Trade (Agreement). According to Articles 2.4, 5.4,  and Paragraph F of Annex 3 of the Agreement, 
international standards shall normally be used as a basis for technical regulations, conformity 
assessment procedures and standards. Harmonization with international standards facilitates global 
trade and reduc es costs for industries. Articles 2.6, 5.5 and Paragraph G of Annex 3 of the Agreement 
require Members' participation in international standardization activities, with a view to harmonizing 
technical regulations, conformity assessment procedures and standa rds on as wide a basis as 
possible. During the second triennial review , the Committee adopted the decision on principles and 
procedures that should be observed  when international standards, guides and recommendations are 
elaborated (the Six Principles). Th e principles are the following: transparency, openness, impartiality 
and consensus, effectiveness and relevance, coherence, development dimension. In light of the 
above and given the WTO jurisprudence, compliance with the Six Principles by an international  
standardizing body is a prerequisite for the body to adopt relevant international standards in the 
meaning of the Agreement.  
1.2.  In this context, it is vital for WTO Members to understand in detail procedures employed by 
international standardizing bodies to ensure implementation of the Six Principles as these procedures 
affect directly scope of rights and obligations of WTO Members.  
1.3.  Deeper understanding of principles and procedures in place can lead to greater Members' 
participation in international standardi zation activities hence improving operationalization of Articles 
2.6, 5.5 and Paragraph G of Annex 3 of the Agreement and contributing to achievement of the goals 
of the Agreement.  
2  PROPOSAL  
2.1.  The Russian Federation proposes holding a thematic session to enhance understanding of 
procedures and principles of international standards development with a view to : 
a. better understanding of WTO provisions, practice and jurisprudence related to 
international standards;  
b. enhance  Members' knowledge of principles and procedures in international 
standardizing bodies for setting standards;  G/TBT/W/799  
 
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  c. improve  operationalization of A rticles 2.4, 5.4, and Paragraph F of Annex 3 of the 
Agreement;  
d. enhance effective implementation of A rticles 2.6, 5. 5 and Paragraph G of Annex 3 of 
the Agreement . 
2.2.  Topics and areas of focus could include : 
a. how international standardizing bodies ensure implementation of each of the Six 
Principles adopted by the Committee ; 
b. ways to follow and participate in international sta ndards development ; 
c. Members ' experience to increase awareness among national stakeholders on the 
international standards being prepared to operationalize Members ' rights set forth in 
Article 2.6, 5.5 and Paragraph G of Annex 3 of the Agreement ; 
d. Members ' experience on making domestic voice heard in international standardizing 
bodies.   
2.3.  Possible speakers may represent WTO Secretariat, ISO, IEC, Codex Alimentarius Commission, 
entities of the UN system, International Organization  of Vine and Wine and other organ izations, 
including domestic standard setting ones.  
2.4.  Benefits for Members: increase awareness of the relevant provisions of the Agreement, 
Committee decision and related jurisprudence, improve knowledge of international standardizing 
bodies ' work, enhance u nderstanding on how to make the voice heard during the process of 
international standards development, support harmonization of technical regulations, conformity 
assessment procedures and standards.  
2.5.  Proposed thematic session can also be viewed as an elemen t of capacity building. It can also 
boost Members ' interest and encourage them to participate more actively in the work of international 
standardizing bodies therefore contributing to fuller effect of the goals of the Agreement.  
2.6.  Previous event1 that focus ed horizontally on international standards – rather than on the work 
of a specific international standardizing body – was held online during COVID -19 pandemic in 
October 2020 commemorating 20 years of adoption of the Six Principles. However, that event was  
not part of the TBT Committee week and was relatively brief. Each speaker had only 5 minutes 
briefly addressing Six Principles altogether. Suggested thematic session will enable us to dive deeper 
into the topic of international standard setting. This part icular thematic session can mark the 25 
years anniversary – a silver jubilee - of the adoption of the Six Principles by the Committee.  
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1 https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tbt_e/tbt_six_principles_e.htm