WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/2/Add.12/Rev.1
1 July 1998
(98-2607)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  English
 IMPLEMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE AGREEMENT ON
TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE
(UPDATING JUNE 1998)
Revision
In accordance with Article 15.2 of the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)
and considering the decision of the TBT Committee of 14 July 1995 concerning the Statement on
Implementation and Administration as contained in document G/TBT/1/Rev.5 of 11 December 1997,
on behalf of the European Community, I have the honour to transmit the following information
concerning the measures taken by the European Community in implementing the Agreement. A
description of the European System in the field of technical rules is annexed to the present statement.
_______________
1. The Council decision 94/800/EC of 22 December 1994 is the basic law in accordance with
which the European Community both approved and formally undertook the obligations of the
Agreement. This decision is published in the Official Journal No. L 336 dated 23 December 1994.
2. Notices of preparation of Community law relevant for the Agreement shall be published in
the Official Journal of the European Communities, C series. After adoption, the texts of all technical
regulations and conformity assessment procedures of the European Community will also be published
in the Official Journal of the European Communities, L series.
3. The expected length of time allowed by the Community and its Member States for comments
in writing shall generally be 60 days.
4. The overall responsibility for the implementation and administration of the TBT Agreement
lies with the Commission of the European Communities.
A TBT Enquiry Point has been set up in the European Commission. Enquiry Points have also
been set up in Member States. All Enquiry Points are fully operational.
In the harmonized area  covered by Community legislation, the EC TBT Enquiry Point is
responsible for giving information about technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment
procedures under Article 10. The EC TBT Enquiry Point is also responsible for the notification of the
relevant Community technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures.
In the non-harmonized area  covered only by national legislation, Member States Enquiry
Points provide information under Article 10. Member States authorities also directly notify proposed
regulations to the WTO secretariat. As local government and non-governmental bodies fall under the
regulatory competence of the Member State on whose territory they are situated, obligations provided
for by the Agreement in respect of these bodies are carried out by the Member States, including
notifications under Articles 3.2 and 7.2 where applicable.G/TBT/2/Add.12/Rev.1
Page 2
Given that a procedure of notification of national technical legislation already exists within
the European Community, the Member States are in a position to fulfil their obligations on
notifications in conformity with the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade.
In both areas , the EC TBT Enquiry Point is responsible for the implementation of the
subsequent steps under the notification procedures. As a consequence, comments by third countries ona proposed regulation notified by a Member State authority have to be addressed to this authority and
to the EC TBT Enquiry Point. Replies to any su ch comments will be given by the EC TBT Enquiry
Point.
As far as third country notifications are concerned, comments are co-ordinated, and any
follow-up is made, by the EC TBT Enquiry Point.
Concerning bilateral or multilateral agreements in the field of standards, technical regulations
and conformity assessment procedures, notifications are made by the European Commission.
The address of the EC TBT Enquiry Point is as follows:
EC TBT Enquiry Point
DG III/A/1
7th floor, office 128
Rue de la Science  151049 Brussels
Belgium
Telephone: +(32-2) 299.12.64
+(32-2) 296. 16.64
Telefax: +(32-2) 296.60.26
+(32-2) 296.67.56
Telex: 21877 COMEU B.
E-mail:Gerhard.Lohan@dg3.cec.be
5. With regard to European Standardizing Bodi es, the following bodies have accepted the Code
of Good Practice for the Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards, in Annex 3 to the
Agreement:
European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)
Sophia-Antipolis
BP 52
F - 06561 Valbonne Cedex
France
Telephone:  +(33) 492 94 42 00
Telefax:  +(33) 493 65 47 16
E-mail:  SECRETARIAT@ETSI.FR
Web-site:  www.etsi.fr
European Committee for Standardization (CEN)
Central Secretariat
36, rue de Stassart
B - 1050 BrusselsBelgium
Telephone:  +(32 2) 550 08 11
Telefax  +(32 2) 550 08 19
E-mail:  Infodesk@cenclcbel.beWeb-site:  www.cenorm.beG/TBT/2/Add.12/Rev.1
Page 3
Centre européen de normalis ation électronique (CENELEC)
35, rue de Stassart
B - 1050 Brussels
Belgium
Telephone:  +(32 2) 519 68 71
Telefax:  +(32 2) 519 69 19
E-mail:  CENELEC@cenclcbel.be
Web-site:  www.cenelec.be
Details are included in the notification of acceptance of these bodies under paragraph C
Annex 3 of the Agreement.
The usual time period allowing for comments on draft standards shall be 60 days.
The list of adopted European Standards as well as the list of draft European Standards
submitted to public enquiry are published in the Bulletin of the European Standards Organizations.
6. The measures taken by the Member States of the European Community for the application of
the TBT Agreement are as follows:
BELGIUM
I. Publications
Technical regulations or standards and procedures for assessment of conformity are published
in the following Belgian publications:
- IBN/BIN revue
- The Belgian Official Journal: Belgish Staatsblad/ Moniteur belge
The existence of draft technical regulations is also communicated to the effective members of
IBN/BIN as AIB-Vinçotte, Bureau Veritas, Fabrimetal, FEBIAC, the Food and Agriculture
Association, the construction sector. They communicate, on their turn, these drafts to their membersand in their technical literature and professional journals.
The existence of draft technical standards is also communicated to the affiliated members of
IBN/BIN, like firms, factories, research offices, architectural offices and universities.
As to the procedures for assessment of conformity this information is, next to the IBN/BIN
revue and Belgian Official Journal, published in the professional journals of the certification bodies,
the inspection agencies and the Belgian competent ministries.
II. Enquiry Point
CIBELNOR
Institut Belge de Normalisation (IBN) / Belgish Instituut voor Normalisatie (BIN)
Avenue de la Brabançonne, 29
1000 Bruxelles
Tel:  +(32-2) 738.0111
Fax:  +(32-2) 733.4264
Telex:  23877 benor b
E-mail:  Cibelnor@ibn.beG/TBT/2/Add.12/Rev.1
Page 4
III. Notifications
Cibelnor is responsible for the notification of Belgian draft regulations, the distribution of
those of the other Members, as well as gathering of comments.
IV. Local government bodies empowered to issue technical regulations and conformity
assessment procedures
Ministère de la Communauté Française
Place Surlet de Chokier 15-17
1000 Bruxelles
Tel:  +(32-2) 227.32.11
Fax:  +(32-2) 218.70.28
Ministerie van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap
Boudewijnlaan 301000 Bruxelles
Tel:  +(32-2) 507.31.11
Fax:  +(32-2) 507.59.59
Ministerium Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft
Klötzerbahn 32
4700 Eupen
Tel:  +(32-87) 74.45.39
Fax:  +(32-87) 55.28.91
Ministère de la Région Wallonne
Place de la Wallonie 1
5000 Namur
Tel:  +(32-81) 33.31.11
Fax:  +(32-81) 33.37.77
Ministère de la Région Bruxelles-Capitale
Rue Royale 2
1000 Bruxelles
Tel:  +(32-2) 518.17.11
Fax:  +(32-2) 518.17.39
The Belgian communities and regions notify their draft regulations through CIBELNOR.
V. Standardizing Bodies that have accepted the Code of Good Practice
Belgian Standardization Institute (IBN)G/TBT/2/Add.12/Rev.1
Page 5
DENMARK
I. Publications
Draft technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures are published in
the shape of a short notice in the journal Dansk Standard .
II. Enquiry Point
Dansk Standard
(Danish Standard Association)
Kollegievej,  6DK-2920 Charlottenlund
Tel:  +(45) 39.96.61.01
Fax:  +(45) 39.96.61.02
E-mail:  Dansk.Standard@ds.dk
III. Notifications
Danish Agency for Development of Industry and Trade
Tagensvej 1372200 Kobenhavn N
Tel:  +(45) 35.86.86.86
Fax:  +(45) 35.86.86.87
E-mail:  journal@efs.dkWeb-site:  www.efs.dk
IV. Local government bodies
There is no local government body empowered to issue technical regulations or conformity
assessment procedures.
V. Standardizing Body that has accepted the Code of Good Practice
Dansk Standard (Danish Standard Association).
GERMANY
I. Publications
Technical rules are adopted by the federal State or by the Länder. Technical rules adopted in
the form of laws or regulations are published respectively in the Bundesgesetzblatt  o r  i n  t h e
appropriate Landesgesetzblatt .
Standards are published in the DIN - Anzeiger für technische Regeln by:Beuth Verlag
Burggrafenstraße, 6
10787  BerlinG/TBT/2/Add.12/Rev.1
Page 6
Tel:  +(49-30) 26.01-0
Fax:  +(49-30) 2601.1260
E-mail:  postmaster@din.de
Web-site:  www.din.de
Electrotechnical Standards are published by:
VDE-Verlag
Bismarckstraße, 33
10625  Berlin
Tel:  +(49-30) 348.00.10
Fax:  +(49-30) 341.70.93.
II. Enquiry Point
Deutsches Informationszentrum für technische Regeln (DITR) im DIN e.V.
(German Information Centre for Technical regulations)
Burggrafenstr. 6
D-10787 Berlin
Tel:  +(49-30) 26.01.26.05
Telefax:  +(49-30) 26.28.125
E-mail:  zimmermann@ditr.din.de
Web-site:  www.din.de
The DITR has been established by the DIN. It is the central body that provides information
about technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures in force in Germany.
III. Notifications
Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft
Referat V A 3,
Villemombler Straße 76,53107  Bonn
Tel:  +(49-228) 615.22.28
Telefax:  +(49-228) 615.34.30
E-mail:  poststelle@bmwi.bund400.de
IV. Local government bodies
The German Basic Law (Grundgesetz) authorizes the 15 "Länder" to adopt technical
regulations in areas other than those expressly reserved for the federal government. As far asregulations adopted by the German sub-federal authorities are concerned, information and notification
procedures take place through the central government.
V. Standardizing Body that has accepted the Code of Good Practice
Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN)
Web-site: www.din.deG/TBT/2/Add.12/Rev.1
Page 7
GREECE
I. Publications
The texts of technical regulations and standards or procedures for assessment of conformity
are published in the Greek Official Journal: Governmental Sheet.
II. Enquiry Point
Hellenic Organization for Standardization (ELOT)
Information Center for Standards and Technical Regulations
313 Acharnon St.GR 11145 Athens
Tel:  +(30-1) 201.98.90
Fax:  +(30-1) 202.07.76
Telex:  21 96.21 ELOT GRE-mail:  eem@elot.gr
III. Standardizing Body that has accepted the Code of Good Practice
Hellenic Organization for Standardization (ELOT)
Web-site: www.elot.gr
SPAIN
I. Publications
Technical regulations or standards and procedures for assessment of conformity adopted by
the central government are published in the Boletin Oficial del Estado .  Those adopted by the
Autonomous Communities are published in the respectives Boletines de las Communidades
Autonomas.
II. Enquiry Point
* For technical regulations:
Ministerio de Economía y Hacienda
Dirección General de Comercio ExteriorSubdirección General de Inspección, Certificación y Asistencia Técnica
Paseo de la Castellana, 162, 6a planta
28071  Madrid
Tel:  +(34-1) 349.37.70/37.54/37.64
Fax:  +(34-1) 349.37.77/37.40
E-mail:  javier.rubiodeurquia@mcx.es
* For standards:
Asociacion Espanola de Normalización y Certificación (AENOR)
Fernandez de la Hoz, 52
28010 Madrid
Tel:  +(34-1) 310 48 51
Fax:  +(34-1) 310 49 76G/TBT/2/Add.12/Rev.1
Page 8
E-mail:  aenor@aenor.es
Web-site:  www.aenor.es
III. Notifications
The Ministerio de Economía y Hacienda is the authority responsible for notifications.
The Comisión Interministerial para las Negociaciones en la Organización Mundial de
Comercio,  created by the Real Decreto 295/95 de 24 de febrero de 1995,  is in charge, among other
things, of the coordination of the activities for the implementation of the TBT Agreement.
IV. Standardizing Body that has accepted the Code of Good Practice
Asociación Española de Normalización y certificación (AENOR)
FRANCE
I. Publications
Technical regulations, standards and procedures for assessment of conformity are published
in the Journal Officiel de la République Française .
II. Enquiry Point
Association Française de Normalisation (AFNOR)
Centre d'Information sur les normes et Règlements Techniques (CINORTECH)
Tour Europe, Cedex 07F-92049 Paris la Défense
Tel:  +(33-1) 42.91.56.69
Fax:  +(33-1) 42.91.56.56
Telex:  611 974 afnor f
E-mail: martine.vaquier.email.afnor.fr
Web-site:  www.afnor.fr
Apart from assuming the tasks mentioned in article 10 of the TBT Agreement, AFNOR /
CINORTECH informs economic operators and administrations on notifications by the other
Members.
III. Notifications
Ministère de l'Industrie
Délégation interministérielle aux normes
Sous-Direction de la Qualité pour l'Industrie et la Normalisation (SQUALPI)22, rue Monge
75005 PARIS
Tel:  +(33-1) 43 19 51 43
Fax:  +(33-1) 43 19 50 44E-mail:  olivier.aubourg@industrie.gouv.fr
suzanne.piau@industrie.gouv.fr
IV. Local government bodies
They are not entitled to adopt technical regulations or conformity assessment procedures.G/TBT/2/Add.12/Rev.1
Page 9
V. Standardizing Body that has accepted the Code of Good Practice
Association Française de Normalisation (AFNOR).
Web-site: www.afnor.fr
IRELAND
I. Publications
Any notices or information regarding national standards, technical regulations or conformity
assessment procedures are published in the Government Publication Iris Oifigiuil and in the NSAI
Standards Bulletin .
II. Enquiry point
* For technical regulations:
WTO Division
Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment
Kildare Street
Dublin 2
Tel:  +(353-1) 661.44.44
Fax:  +(353-1) 676.61.54
* For Standards:
Standards Development
National Standards Authority of Ireland
Glasnevin
Dublin 9
Tel:  +(353-1) 807.38.00
Fax:  +(353-1) 807.38.38Web-site: www.nsai.ie
ITALY
I. Publications
Technical regulations are published in the Italian official journal:  Gazetta Ufficiale della
Repubblica.
II. Enquiry Point
* For technical regulations:
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR)
Ufficio Trasferimento Innovazione, brevetti, normativa tecnica (Stibnot)
Via Tiburtina, 770
00159 - Roma
Tel:  +(39-6) 407 58 26
Fax:  +(39-6) 499 32 440
E-mail:  Utinob @ IRMRETI.CED.RM.CNR.ITG/TBT/2/Add.12/Rev.1
Page 10
* For standards (except electricity and electronics)
Ente Nazionale Italiano di Unificazione (UNI)
Via Battistotti Sassi, 11:b
20153 - Milano
Tel:  +(39-2) 700241
Fax:  +(39-2) 701 061 06
E-mail:  Presidenza @ UNI.UNICEI.IT
* For standards concerning electricity and electronics
Comitato Elettrotecnico Italiano (CEI)
Viale Monza, 259
20126 - Milano
Tel:  +(39-2) 257 731
Fax:  +(39-2) 257 732 01
E-mail:  Camagni @ CEIUNI.IT
III. Notifications
Ministero dell' Industria, del Commercio e dell' Artigianato (MICA  -  DGPI)
(Ministry of Industry, Trade and Craftwork)
Divisione XIX
Via Molise, 19
I-00187 ROMA
Tel:  +(39-6) 470 526 69
Fax:  +(39-6) 478 877 48
E-mail:  Min.Ind.Isp. Tecnico @ agora.stm.it
IV. Standardizing Bodies that have accepted the Code of Good Practice
Ente Nazionale Italiano di Unificazione (UNI).
Web-site: www .unicei.it
Comitato Elettrotecnico Italiano (CEI).
LUXEMBOURG
I. Publications
Technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures are published in the
Luxembourg's Official Journal: Mémorial .
II. Enquiry Point
Inspection du Travail et des Mines (ITM)
26, rue ZitheBoîte Postale 27
L-2010 Luxembourg
Tel:  +(352) 478.61.50
Fax:  +(352) 491.447G/TBT/2/Add.12/Rev.1
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THE NETHERLANDS
I. Publications
Notices of preparation of technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment
procedures are published in the Staatscourant .
The same publication is used for the texts adopted.
II. Enquiry Point
* Article 10, paragraph 1.1.
Ministry of Finance
Central Licensing Office for Imports and Exports
Tax and Customs Administration
Section EEC/WTO-NotificationsPO Box  30003
9700 RD GRONINGEN
Tel:  +(31-50) 5239.275 / 5239.178
Fax:  +(31-50) 5239.219E-mail:  cdiuor@noord.bart.nl
The CDIU is responsible for the implementation of regulations in the field of international
trade and also for information on technical regulations, including notifications.
* Article 10, paragraph 1.2
Nederlands Normalisatie Instituut (NNI)
(Netherlands Standardization Institute)
P.O Box 5059
2600 GB Delft
The Netherlands
Tel:  +(31-15) 690255
Fax:  +(31-15) 690130
Web-site:  www.nni.nl
* Article 10, paragraph 1.3
Raad voor Accreditatie
(Council for Accreditation)
P.O. Box  27683500 GT Utrecht
Tel:  (31-30) 2894500
Fax:  (31-30) 2394539
III. Notifications
Ministry of Economic Affairs
Foreign economic relations
P.O. Box 201012500 EC Den HaagG/TBT/2/Add.12/Rev.1
Page 12
Tel:  +(31 70) 379.63.32
Fax:  +(31 70) 379.72.21
IV. Standardizing Body that has accepted the Code of Good Practice
Nederlands Normalisatie Instituut (NNI)
Web-site:  www.nni.nl
AUSTRIA
I. Publications
Technical regulations, when adopted, are published in the following official journals:
- Bundesgesetzblatt für die Republik Österreich (Federal Law Gazette for the Republic of
Austria).
- Amtsblatt für das Eichwesen (Official Journal for Metrology)- Amtsblatt für das Vermessungswesen (Official Journal for Surveying)
Draft Standards are published in the following periodicals:- CONNEX (published by the Austrian Standards Institute - ON)
- e & i - Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik (published by the Austrian Electrotechnical
Association - ÖVE)
Standards, when adopted, are published in the following periodicals:
- CONNEX
- ON-KATALOG
- e & i
- Amtsblatt zur Wiener Zeitung
II. Enquiry Points
* For technical regulations (Article 10.1)
Bundesministerium für Wirtschaftliche Angelegenheiten
(Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs)
Abteilung 1/6 (Division 1/6)Stubenring 1
A-1011 Wien
Tel:  +(43-1) 71100, ext. 5452
Fax:  +(43-1) 715.96.51, 718.05.08Telex:  (047) 11 145 regeb a or 111 780 regeb a
E-mail/Internet:  Gabriela.Habermayer@bmwa.bmwa.ada.at
E-mail/X400:  G=Gabriela; S=Habermayer; O=BMWA;
P=BMWA; A=ADA;  C=ATG/TBT/2/Add.12/Rev.1
Page 13
* For non-governmental standards (Article 10.3)
Österreichisches Normungsinstitut - ON
(Austrian Standards Institute)
Heinestraße 38P.O.B. 130
A- 1021 Wien
Tel:  +(43-1) 213 00/ext.613
Fax:  +(43.1) 213.00.650
Telex:  (047) 115 960 norm a
E-mail/Internet:  IRO@TBXA.telecom.atE-mail/Geonet:  TBXA.IRO
III. Notifications
Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Angelegenheiten
(as above under Enquiry Points)
IV. Local government bodies
As far as regulations adopted by the Austrian sub-federal authorities (Bundesländer) are
concerned, information and notification procedures take place through the central government.
V. Standardizing Bodies that have accepted the Code of Good Practice
Österreichisches Normungsinstitut - ON (Austrian Standards Institute).
Web-site: www.on-norm.at
Österreichischer Verband für Elektroteknik - ÖVE (Austrian Electrotechnical Association)
PORTUGAL
I. Publications
Technical regulations, standards and procedures for assessment of conformity are published
in the Portuguese Official Journal: Diario de Republica
II. Enquiry Point
Instituto Portuguès da Qualidade
(Portuguese Institute for Quality)
Rua C à Avenida dos Très Vales
P - 2825 Monte de Caparica
Tel:  +(351-1) 2948100
Fax:  +(351-1) 294.8101/8222/8223
E-mail/Internet:  PINCDCP@IPQM.IPQ.GTW-MS.MAILPAC.PT
E-mail/X.400: C=PT, A=MAILPAC, P=GTW-MS, O=IPQ, OU1=IPQM,
S=PINCDCPWeb-site:  www.ipq.ptG/TBT/2/Add.12/Rev.1
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FINLAND
I. Publications
Draft technical regulations, standards and procedures for assessment of conformity are
published in the SFS Information newsletter .
II. Enquiry Point
Finnish Standards Association SFS
P.O. Box 116
Fin-00241 Helsinki
Tel:  +(358-9) 149.93.31
Fax:  +(358-9) 146.49.14
E-mail:  wto@sfs.fi
Web-site:  www.sfs.fi
III. Notifications
Ministry of Trade and Industry
Trade departmentP.O. Box 230
Fin-00171 Helsinki
Tel:  +(358-9) 160.36.46/160.35.27
Fax:  +(358-9) 160.40.22E-mail:  maaraykset.tekniset@ktm.vn.fi
Web-site:  www.vn.fi/ktm/
IV. Local government bodies .
They have no specific functions under the TBT Agreement.
V. Standardizing Body that has accepted the Code of Good Practice
Finnish Standards Association SFS.
Web-site:  www.sfs.fi
SWEDEN
I. Publications
Notifications concerning proposals for technical regulations and conformity assessment
procedures are published in "NOTNYTT" (Notifica tion News) of the National Board of Trade and in
"Exportnytt" (Export News) of the Swedish Export council.
Adopted Swedish regulations appear in the Sw edish Code of Statutes (Laws and Government
Ordinances) and in the statute-books of the respective government authorities.Titles of proposed and adopted Swedish standards are published in Newsletter from SIS (published by
SIS Förlag AB).G/TBT/2/Add.12/Rev.1
Page 15
II. Enquiry Point
* Article 10.1.3
National Board of Trade
Swedish WTO-TBT Enquiry Point
Kommerskollegium
Box 6803
S-11386 Stockholm
Tel:  +(46-8) 690.48.00
Fax:  +(46-8) 690.48.40E-mail:  registrator@kommers.se
christer.arvius@kommers.se
III. Notifications
The National Board of Trade is the authority responsible for notifications.
IV. Local government bodies
They do not issue technical regulations.
The National Board of Trade has issued new implementing regulations on technical rules with
further details concerning the application of the Ordinance on Technical Rules (1994:  2029) as
amended by Ordinance (1995: 1022). Since August 15 1995 the Boards implementing regulations
KFS 1995:5, KK: 2) apply. This legislation sets out what the national authorities have to observe inconnection with the preparation of technical rules.  It also regulates the interplay between these
authorities and the notifying authority, the National Board of Trade, as regards inter alia  consultation
and the provision of information in due time in order to fulfil international notification obligations.
V. Standardizing Bodies that have accepted the Code of Good Practice
Svenska Elektriska Kommissionen (Swedish Electrotechnical Commission)
Web-site: www.sekom.se
Swedish Standards Institution- SIS
Web-site: www.sis.se
Byggstandardiseringen - BST (Swedish Building Standards Institution)
Hälso- och sjukvårdsstandardiseringen – HSS (Swedish Healthcare Standards Institution)
Web-site: www.hss.se
Kran- och Hisstandardiseringen – IKH (Swedish Crane- and Lift Standardization)
Informationstekniska standardiseringen – ITS (Swedish Information Technology
Standardization)
Web-site:  www.its.se
Svensk Material- och Mekanstandard – SMS (Swedish Materials and Mechanical Standards)
Web-site: www.sms-standard.se
Allmänna Standardiseringsgruppen – STS (Swedish General Standards Institution)
Web-site:  www.stg.seG/TBT/2/Add.12/Rev.1
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Tryckkärlsstandardiseringen – TKS (Swedish Pressure Vessel Standardization)
Web-site:  www.sis.se/tks/default.htm
UNITED KINGDOM
I. Publications
Information about draft standards are published in BSI Update  which is issued with BSI News
by the British Standards Institution (BSI)
389 Chiswick High Road
London  W 4 4 AL
II. Enquiry Point
* Article 10.1
WTO Section
Department of Trade and Industry
Room 360
Kingsgate House66-74 Victoria Street
London SW1E 6SW
Tel:  +(44-171) 215.45.11
Fax:  +(44-171) 215.45.12E-mail /Internet: anhar.meah@eirv.dti.gov.uk
E-mail /X400:  C=GB;  A=GOLD 400;  P=HMGDTI;  OU1=EIRV;  O=DTI;
G=Anhar;  S=Meah
* Article 10.3
BSI Information Centre
389 Chiswick High Road
London W4 4AL
United Kingdom
Tel:  +(44-181) 996.71.11
Fax:  +(44-181) 996.70.48
E-mail /Internet:  info@bsi.org.uk
E-mail /X400:  S=INFO;  O=BSI;  P=BSI;  A=GOLD 400;  C=GB
III. Local government bodies
They are not responsible for preparing or adopting technical regulations, standards or
conformity assessment procedures.
IV. Standardizing Body that has accepted the Code of Good Practice
British Standards Institution (BSI)
Web-site: www.bsi.org.ukG/TBT/2/Add.12/Rev.1
Page 17
ANNEX
European System in the Field of Technical Rules
This annex has been provided to facilitate the understanding of the functioning of the
European system in the field of technical rules. Generally, a distinction has to be made between
regulatory provisions adopted by public authorities that are binding, and voluntary instruments, such
as standards adopted by independent standards organizations, which remain voluntary.
I. TECHNICAL REGULATIONS
As regards mandatory technical rules , whether they cover technical specifications or relate to
testing and certification, including administrative procedures, there are several instruments to avoid
technical barriers to trade.
1. Harmonized area covered by Community legislation
In this area, two different legislative tec hniques are being followed. Under the technical
harmonization directives of the old approach , the protection requirements with regard to safety,
health, environmental protection or other legitimate objectives of the Community are set by public
authorities even if they would imply detailed regulation. The directives based on the new approach
and the global approach  establish the essential requirements with regard to products as well as the
appropriate conformity assessment procedures, leaving flexibility to the market as regards technicalsolutions to meet these requirements. The protection level set up using both techniques represents the
minimum that manufacturers must fulfil in order to be able to place their products on the Community
market and at the same time the maximum that can be required by the market surveillance authorities
of the Member States.
2. Non-harmonized area covered by national legislation
In this field, no Community legislation exists and Member States are responsible for their
respective national regulatory policies, provided they comply with Community law.
As regards draft technical regulations, directive 83/189/EEC of 28/3/83
1 obliges Member
States to notify them to the Commission which comm unicates these drafts to the other Member States;
this procedure allows the Commission and the Member States to identify potential trade barrierswithin the internal market and to react, if necessary , in order to take the appropriate steps to avoid the
creation of trade barriers.  As regards existing regulations, which may differ according to Member
States, the principle of mutual recognition has been  developed and established on the basis of Articles
30 to 36 of the EC Treaty. This means that products legally marketed in one Member State can, in
principle, freely circulate throughout the whole European Community.
In addition, Decision 3052/95/EC provides that , as of 1 January 1997, any Member State has
to notify the Commission of measures preventing or restricting the free movement of a model or type
of product which has nevertheless been produced or marketed in another Member State. The kind of
measures to be notified are those which would directly or indirectly impose a general ban, a refusal togrant an authorization, a requirement to modify the m odel or type of product or a withdrawal from the
market. This new instrument should prove to be a useful complement to the other means of detecting
and removing possible remaining barriers to trade in goods within the single market.
                                                     
1 O.J.E.C. n° L109, 26/4/83. Directive at last amended by Directive 94/10/EEC of 23/3/94 (O.J.E.C.
n°L100,19/4/94)G/TBT/2/Add.12/Rev.1
Page 18
II. STANDARDS
Under the rules of the European standard s organizations CEN, CENELEC and ETSI,
European standards have to be transposed into national standards and conflicting national standards
have to be withdrawn, thus bringing about an effective harmonization throughout the Community. In
addition, Directive 83/189/EEC obliges national standards organizations to notify to each other newwork items. On that basis national standardizing bodies may ask for European standards to be
developed instead of the national standard, or ask for their active or passive participation in the
national activities.
In various policy areas, the Community has recourse to European standards in order to
facilitate the implementation of these policies. One example of recourse to standards is New Approach
Directives that only set out essential requirements for products. With a view to presenting technicalsolutions to meet such essential requirements, New Approach Directives foresee the possibility of
European standards to be adopted under a mandate from the Commission. Products complying with
these so-called harmonized European standards bene fit from a presumption of conformity with the
mandatory essential requirements. However, the use of such standards remains voluntary;  different
technical solutions can always be presented to meet the essential requirements.
European standards organizations have a strong record in implementing international
standards and have concluded cooperation agreements with their international counterparts.
III. CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES
Conformity assessment procedures of a mandatory nature are contained in technical
legislation, which in most cases either describe the applicable conformity assessment procedures
directly or define the choice of possible conformity assessment procedures. Community technical
harmonization directives based on the principle of the New Approach  from 1990 onwards indicate
which specific procedures are applicable out of the different modules laid down in the Module
Decision (90/683/EEC of 13/12/90
2, repealed and replaced by 93/465/EEC of 22/7/933).  According to
the type of risk, a variety of modules  have been established ranging from internal production control
(simple manufacturer's declaration) over type examination to quality assurance techniques. The
compliance with all obligations applicable to a sp ecific product grants the right of affixing the
CE marking to this product.
As regards testing and certification in the voluntary field, the Commission and the European
standards organizations have set up the European Organization for Testing and Certification (EOTC).
This is an umbrella organization under which interested parties can conclude mutual recognition
agreements. Participation in these voluntary agreements is open also to companies in third countries.
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2 O.J.E.C. n° L380, 31/12/90
3 O.J.E.C. n° L220, 30/8/93